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Fig. 6. Loss of Cbs causes centrosome replication and maturation defects. To determine the mutant phenotype the Gal4/UAS-inducible expression system was used to trigger RNAi during early embryogenesis. Embryos were immunostained for Cnn (green, A-D) or microtubles (green, E,H,I,K,L), Cbs (red, A-L) and Cnn (blue, E-J), or DNA staining with TOTO-3 (blue A,D,L). During prophase a moderate decrease in the levels of Cbs (A,B) leads to minor centrosome defects and occasional acentrosomal nuclei, whereas the loss of Cbs (C,D) results in small centrosomes, an increased number of acentrosomal nuclei and aberrant nuclear morphology. During metaphase, a moderate decrease in the levels of Cbs (E,F) causes aberrant spindle formation and a reduction in centrosome size (arrowheads, left), and collapsed spindles (arrowheads, lower right). When Cbs is significantly depleted during metaphase (G,H) centrosome replication is blocked, resulting in monopolar spindles, although in some examples (arrows) the loss of centrosomes may be due to poor attachment to spindles. At the start of cellularization (I,J), centrosome maturation defects become more prevalent (arrowheads), and Cbs fails to form a dense pericentriolar structure, remaining as an amorphous haze above nuclei. As cellularization continues (K,L) Cbs fails to move down over nuclei and many nuclei fall into the syncytium, creating large gaps in the embryonic cortex. Bars, 20 µM (A-D,I,J); 40 µM (E-H,K,L).
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