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. 1995 Jan 3;14(1):28–36. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1995.tb06972.x

Gamma-tubulin is required for the structure and function of the microtubule organizing centre in Drosophila neuroblasts.

C E Sunkel 1, R Gomes 1, P Sampaio 1, J Perdigão 1, C González 1
PMCID: PMC398049  PMID: 7828594

Abstract

We report that in Drosophila, gamma-tubulin is required for the structure as well as the function of microtubule organizing centres (MTOCs). This conclusion is based on the identification and phenotypic characterization of a mutant allele of the gamma-tubulin gene located at region 23C of the polytene chromosome map. This mutation, which we have called gamma-tub23CPl, is caused by the insertion of a P-element within the 5' untranslated leader of the gamma-tubulin transcript. Northern and Western analysis show that gamma-tub23CPl is either a null or a very severe hypomorph as no gamma-tubulin mRNA or protein can be detected in mutant individuals. Visualization of DNA, MTOCs and microtubules by confocal laser scanning microscopy of cells from individuals homozygous for gamma-tub23CPl reveals a series of phenotypic abnormalities. Some of these are similar to those observed after disruption of gamma-tubulin function in other organisms, including mitotic arrest and a dramatic decrease in the number of microtubules, but, in addition, we have observed that mutation in this gene also results in highly abnormal MTOCs which show a variety of shapes and sizes which we never observed in wild type cells. These results show that gamma-tubulin is required for both structural and functional roles in the MTOCs.

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Selected References

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