Septins and a formin have distinct functions in anaphase chiral cortical rotation in the Caenorhabditis elegans zygote.

ABSTRACT: Many cells and tissues exhibit chirality that stems from the chirality of proteins and polymers. In the Caenorhabditis elegans zygote, actomyosin contractility drives chiral rotation of the entire cortex circumferentially around the division plane during anaphase. How contractility is translated to cell-scale chirality, and what dictates handedness, are unknown. Septins are candidate contributors to cell-scale chirality because they anchor and cross-link the actomyosin cytoskeleton. We report that septins are required for anaphase cortical rotation. In contrast, the formin CYK-1, which we found to be enriched in the posterior in early anaphase, is not required for cortical rotation but contributes to its chirality. Simultaneous loss of septin and CYK-1 function led to abnormal and o

SUBMITTER: Zaatri A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8351551 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature