Publication Date:
2022-10-27
Description:
© The Author(s), 2020. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Meaders, J. L., de Matos, S. N., & Burgess, D. R. A pushing mechanism for microtubule aster positioning in a large cell type. Cell Reports, 33(1), (2020): 108213, doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108213.
Description:
After fertilization, microtubule (MT) sperm asters undergo long-range migration to accurately position pronuclei. Due to the large sizes of zygotes, the forces driving aster migration are considered to be from pulling on the astral MTs by dynein, with no significant contribution from pushing forces. Here, we re-investigate the forces responsible for sperm aster centration in sea urchin zygotes. Our quantifications of aster geometry and MT density preclude a pulling mechanism. Manipulation of aster radial lengths and growth rates, combined with quantitative tracking of aster migration dynamics, indicates that aster migration is equal to the length of rear aster radii, supporting a pushing model for centration. We find that dynein inhibition causes an increase in aster migration rates. Finally, ablation of rear astral MTs halts migration, whereas front and side ablations do not. Collectively, our data indicate that a pushing mechanism can drive the migration of asters in a large cell type.
Description:
We would like to thank Dr. Jesse Gatlin for sending us the Tau-mCherry fusion protein for imaging live MTs. We would also like to thank Dr. Timothy Mitchison, Dr. Christine Field, and Dr. James Pelletier for supplying us with CA4, p150-CC1, and EB1-GFP peptides, as well as for fruitful discussions. Finally, we would like to thank Dr. Charles Shuster and Leslie Toledo-Jacobo for constructive feedback when preparing the manuscript. We thank Bret Judson and the Boston College Imaging Core for infrastructure and support. This material is based upon work supported by NSF grant no. 124425 to D.R.B.
Keywords:
Dynein
;
Aster
;
Microtubule
;
Centrosome
;
Pronucleus
;
Fertilization
;
Aster position
Repository Name:
Woods Hole Open Access Server
Type:
Article
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