Poster abstracts
Poster number 18 submitted by David Ignacio
Dynein localization and pronuclear movement in the C. elegans zygote
David Ignacio (Molecular Genetics; MCDB)
Abstract:
Centrosome positioning and the resulting pronuclear movement during centrosome positioning is achieved through dynein and microtubule-mediated force generation. The mechanism and regulation of the force generation required for this centrosome movement is not fully understood. LET-99 and GPB-1 have been postulated to have a role in this force generation. When these genes are perturbed, pronuclear movement exhibits an oscillatory movement (‘wobble’) that is suggestive of a disruption of force generation. In this study, we utilize RNAi-mediated knockdown to induce wobble and assay for any effects on GFP-tagged dynein localization in the Caenorhabditis elegans one-cell embryo. We devised a quantification method to measures the strength of wobble (‘wobble metric’) induced under these experimental conditions. Our quantification of pronuclear complex wobble metric and dynein dynamics show LET-99 and GPB-1 function is independent of dynein distribution in the C. elegans early embryo.
Keywords: Dynein