Fig. 9. Pathway showing how let-502 and mel-11 act with respect
to other genes to regulate cytokinesis. During anaphase, structural components
of the furrow begin to associate into a contractile bundle, including NMY-2,
MLC-4 and actin. Cleavage furrow contraction is regulated by MLC-4
phosphorylation. LET-502 and MEL-11 localize to the furrow and together
regulate the rate of its contraction. MEL-11 would prevent cleavage furrow
contraction from occurring until the proper signal (Rho-GTP) is produced to
increase LET-502's activity. Active LET-502 causes the downregulation of
MEL-11 and/or the direct activation of MLC-4, allowing the actomyosin ring to
contract. After the ring contracts, proteins such as CYK-4 and late CYK-1
regulate furrow termination.
