Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 1.11 Asl is essential for PCL formation. a To determine the relationship between the PCL,
the giant centriole (c), and the PCM, the localization of Ana1-GFP relative to the centriolar
adjunct protein c-tubulin (Wilson et al.
1997
) was analyzed. In early spermatids, c-tubulin labels
the vicinity of the giant centriole along most of its length (i). During the time the Ana1 labelled
PCL appears, c-tubulin assembles a half ring structure around the giant centriole, which touches
the PCL (ii). At a later stage, the PCL migrates distally and c-tubulin labels the PCL. b To
determine if Asl plays a role in PCL formation we followed maternally contributed giant
centrioles in spermatids of the asl
mecD
mutant. No PCL is observed near the giant centriole,
demonstrating an essential role for Asl in PCL formation. However, while in early asl
mecD
spermatids c-tubulin localization appears to be normal, many abnormal c-tubulin rings are found
at the vicinity of the maternally contributed giant centrioles in intermediate asl
mecD
spermatids.
(The a panel is modified from Fig.
1.2
c in (Blachon et al.
2009
)
events in centriole biogenesis (Blachon et al.
2009
). PCL formation depends on the
function of the centrosomal proteins Plk4, Sas-6, and Asl and it contains the
following centrosomal proteins: Sas-6, Ana2, Ana1, Sas-4, Bld10, Cnn, and Asl
(Blachon et al.
2009
; Mottier-Pavie and Megraw
2009
; Stevens et al.
2010b
) and
(Fig.
1.11
b).
1.3.3 The Drosophila Adult Sensory Neuron and Testes Develop
Using Proteins Generated During Metamorphosis
Unlike early embryogenesis that utilizes maternally contributed proteins, the adult
fly develops during metamorphosis by utilizing proteins synthesized from the
genome of the fly itself. Therefore, by studying sensory neurons and testes in the
pupa or adult, one can study the full impact of a mutation in a centrosomal protein.
Interestingly, flies that have mutations in essential centrosomal proteins and have
no centrosomes can develop to adulthood but die soon after leaving the pupa
