Centrosome aurora a gradient ensures single polarity axis in C. elegans embryos

Kapoor, S and Kotak, S (2020) Centrosome aurora a gradient ensures single polarity axis in C. elegans embryos. In: Biochemical Society Transactions, 48 (3). pp. 1243-1253.

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Abstract

Cellular asymmetries are vital for generating cell fate diversity during development and in stem cells. In the newly fertilized Caenorhabditis elegans embryo, centrosomes are responsible for polarity establishment, i.e. anterior�posterior body axis formation. The signal for polarity originates from the centrosomes and is transmitted to the cell cortex, where it disassembles the actomyosin network. This event leads to symmetry breaking and the establishment of distinct domains of evolutionarily conserved PAR proteins. However, the identity of an essential component that localizes to the centrosomes and promotes symmetry breaking was unknown. Recent work has uncovered that the loss of Aurora A kinase (AIR-1 in C. elegans and hereafter referred to as Aurora A) in the one-cell embryo disrupts stereotypical actomyosin-based cortical flows that occur at the time of polarity establishment. This misregulation of actomyosin flow dynamics results in the occurrence of two polarity axes. Notably, the role of Aurora A in ensuring a single polarity axis is independent of its well-established function in centrosome maturation. The mechanism by which Aurora A directs symmetry breaking is likely through direct regulation of Rho-dependent contractility. In this mini-review, we will discuss the unconventional role of Aurora A kinase in polarity establishment in C. elegans embryos and propose a refined model of centrosome-dependent symmetry breaking. © 2020 Portland Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Biochemical Society Transactions
Publisher:	Portland Press Ltd
Additional Information:	The copyright of this article belongs to Portland Press Ltd
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Microbiology & Cell Biology
Date Deposited:	16 Nov 2020 07:02
Last Modified:	16 Nov 2020 07:02
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/66617

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