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First published online 28 February 2006
doi: 10.1242/jcs.02834

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jcs.02834v1 119/6/1144    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in JCS Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chang, C.-J. Articles by Carmena, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chang, C.-J. Articles by Carmena, M.

Drosophila Incenp is required for cytokinesis and asymmetric cell division during development of the nervous system

Chih-Jui Chang^*, Sarah Goulding, Richard R. Adams, William C. Earnshaw and Mar Carmena^¶

Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JR, UK

^¶ Author for correspondence (e-mail: mar.carmena{at}ed.ac.uk)

Accepted 5 December 2005

The chromosomal passenger protein complex has emerged as a key player in mitosis, with important roles in chromatin modifications, kinetochore-microtubule interactions, chromosome bi-orientation and stability of the bipolar spindle, mitotic checkpoint function, assembly of the central spindle and cytokinesis. The inner centromere protein (Incenp; a subunit of this complex) is thought to regulate the Aurora B kinase and target it to its substrates. To explore the roles of the passenger complex in a developing multicellular organism, we have performed a genetic screen looking for new alleles and interactors of Drosophila Incenp. We have isolated a new null allele of Incenp that has allowed us for the first time to study the functions of the chromosomal passengers during development. Homozygous incenp^EC3747 embryos show absence of phosphorylation of histone H3 in mitosis, failure of cytokinesis and polyploidy, and defects in peripheral nervous system development. These defects are consistent with depletion of Aurora B kinase activity. In addition, the segregation of the cell-fate determinant Prospero in asymmetric neuroblast division is abnormal, suggesting a role for the chromosomal passenger complex in the regulation of this process.

Key words: Drosophila, Chromosomal passengers, Incenp, Cytokinesis, Prospero, Asymmetric division

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