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Aurora A depletion reveals centrosome-independent polarization mechanism in Caenorhabditis elegans.


ABSTRACT: How living systems break symmetry in an organized manner is a fundamental question in biology. In wild-type Caenorhabditis elegans zygotes, symmetry breaking during anterior-posterior axis specification is guided by centrosomes, resulting in anterior-directed cortical flows and a single posterior PAR-2 domain. We uncover that C. elegans zygotes depleted of the Aurora A kinase AIR-1 or lacking centrosomes entirely usually establish two posterior PAR-2 domains, one at each pole. We demonstrate that AIR-1 prevents symmetry breaking early in the cell cycle, whereas centrosomal AIR-1 instructs polarity initiation thereafter. Using triangular microfabricated chambers, we establish that bipolarity of air-1(RNAi) embryos occurs effectively in a cell-shape and curvature-dependent manner. Furthermore, we develop an integrated physical description of symmetry breaking, wherein local PAR-2-dependent weakening of the actin cortex, together with mutual inhibition of anterior and posterior PAR proteins, provides a mechanism for spontaneous symmetry breaking without centrosomes.

SUBMITTER: Klinkert K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6417861 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Aurora A depletion reveals centrosome-independent polarization mechanism in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>.

Klinkert Kerstin K   Levernier Nicolas N   Gross Peter P   Gentili Christian C   von Tobel Lukas L   Pierron Marie M   Busso Coralie C   Herrman Sarah S   Grill Stephan W SW   Kruse Karsten K   Gönczy Pierre P  

eLife 20190226


How living systems break symmetry in an organized manner is a fundamental question in biology. In wild-type <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> zygotes, symmetry breaking during anterior-posterior axis specification is guided by centrosomes, resulting in anterior-directed cortical flows and a single posterior PAR-2 domain. We uncover that <i>C. elegans</i> zygotes depleted of the Aurora A kinase AIR-1 or lacking centrosomes entirely usually establish two posterior PAR-2 domains, one at each pole. We d  ...[more]

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