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First published online March 7, 2008

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PLK-1 asymmetry makes time for cell division

During metazoan development, different cell lineages divide at different rates but how is the timing of cell division coupled with embryonic development? In C. elegans, lineage-specific cell-cycle duration is already apparent at the two-cell stage, when the anterior AB blastomere divides before the posterior P₁ blastomere. The preferential activation of a DNA-replication checkpoint in P₁ partly controls this asynchronous cell division. Now, Budirahardja and Gönczy (see p. 1303) report that the asymmetric distribution of the polo-like kinase PLK-1 (a positive mitotic regulator) also contributes to this asynchronous division. These researchers have discovered that anterior-posterior polarity cues cause PLK-1 to preferentially accumulate in AB. plk-1's mild inactivation by RNAi does not delay mitotic entry in AB but does so in P₁, presumably because PLK-1's lower level in P₁ makes this blastomere more sensitive to PLK-1 depletion. The researchers propose, therefore, that the PLK-1-dependent mitotic advancement in AB and the checkpoint-dependent mitotic delay in P₁ together couple polarity cues and cell-cycle timing during worm development.

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Related articles in Development:

PLK-1 asymmetry contributes to asynchronous cell division of C. elegans embryos

Yemima Budirahardja and Pierre Gönczy
Development 2008 135: 1303-1313. [Abstract] [Full Text]  

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in Development Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?