Asterless is a centriolar protein required for centrosome function and embryo 
development in Drosophila

Varmark, Hanne; Llamazares, Salud; Rebollo, Elena; Lange, Bodo; Reina, Jose; Schwarz, Heinz; Gonzalez, Cayetano

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2007.09.031

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Asterless is a centriolar protein required for centrosome function and embryo development in Drosophila

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Lange, Bodo
Dept. of Vertebrate Genomics (Head: Hans Lehrach), Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Varmark, H., Llamazares, S., Rebollo, E., Lange, B., Reina, J., Schwarz, H., et al. (2007). Asterless is a centriolar protein required for centrosome function and embryo development in Drosophila. Current Biology, 17(20), 1735-1745. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2007.09.031.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-0010-813E-C

Abstract

Background Centrosomes, the major organizers of the microtubule network in most animal cells, are composed of centrioles embedded in a web of pericentriolar material (PCM). Recruitment and stabilization of PCM on the centrosome is a centriole-dependent function. Compared to the considerable number of PCM proteins known, the molecular characterization of centrioles is still very limited. Only a few centriolar proteins have been identified so far in Drosophila, most related to centriole duplication. Results We have cloned asterless (asl) and found that it encodes a 120 kD highly coiled-coil protein that is a constitutive pancentriolar and basal body component. Loss of asl function impedes the stabilization/maintenance of PCM at the centrosome. In embryos deficient for Asl, development is arrested right after fertilization. Asl shares significant homology with Cep152, a protein described as a component of the human centrosome for which no functional data is yet available. Conclusions The cloning of asl offers new insight into the molecular composition of Drosophila centrioles and a possible model for the role of its human homolog. In addition, the phenotype of asl-deficient flies reveals that a functional centrosome is required for Drosophila embryo development.