PUBLICATION

Molecular genetics of maternally-controlled cell divisions

Authors
Abrams, E.W., Fuentes, R., Marlow, F.L., Kobayashi, M., Zhang, H., Lu, S., Kapp, L., Joseph, S.R., Kugath, A., Gupta, T., Lemon, V., Runke, G., Amodeo, A.A., Vastenhouw, N.L., Mullins, M.C.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200422-61
Date
2020
Source
PLoS Genetics   16: e1008652 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Abrams, Elliott, Gupta, Tripti, Joseph, Shai, Kapp, Lee, Kugath, Amy, Marlow, Florence, Mullins, Mary C., Runke, Greg, Vastenhouw, Nadine
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Male
  • Mutation*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Female
  • Alleles
  • Cell Nucleus
  • Embryonic Development/genetics*
  • Cell Division/genetics*
  • Mutagenesis
  • Blastula/cytology
  • Blastula/embryology
  • Blastula/metabolism
  • Infertility, Male/genetics
  • Maternal Inheritance/genetics*
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Cytokinesis/genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Body Patterning/genetics
(all 20)
PubMed
32267837 Full text @ PLoS Genet.
Abstract
Forward genetic screens remain at the forefront of biology as an unbiased approach for discovering and elucidating gene function at the organismal and molecular level. Past mutagenesis screens targeting maternal-effect genes identified a broad spectrum of phenotypes ranging from defects in oocyte development to embryonic patterning. However, earlier vertebrate screens did not reach saturation, anticipated classes of phenotypes were not uncovered, and technological limitations made it difficult to pinpoint the causal gene. In this study, we performed a chemically-induced maternal-effect mutagenesis screen in zebrafish and identified eight distinct mutants specifically affecting the cleavage stage of development and one cleavage stage mutant that is also male sterile. The cleavage-stage phenotypes fell into three separate classes: developmental arrest proximal to the mid blastula transition (MBT), irregular cleavage, and cytokinesis mutants. We mapped each mutation to narrow genetic intervals and determined the molecular basis for two of the developmental arrest mutants and a mutation causing male sterility and a maternal-effect mutant phenotype. One developmental arrest mutant gene encodes a maternal specific Stem Loop Binding Protein, which is required to maintain maternal histone levels. The other developmental arrest mutant encodes a maternal-specific subunit of the Minichromosome Maintenance Protein Complex, which is essential for maintaining normal chromosome integrity in the early blastomeres. Finally, we identify a hypomorphic allele of Polo-like kinase-1 (Plk-1), which results in a male sterile and maternal-effect phenotype. Collectively, these mutants expand our molecular-genetic understanding of the maternal regulation of early embryonic development in vertebrates.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Figure Gallery (8 images)
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
p01aiue
    Unknown
    p04anua
      Unknown
      p5TgTransgenic Insertion
        p09ajug
          Point Mutation
          p09batl
            Unknown
            p10umal
              Point Mutation
              p15uzat
                Unknown
                p18ad
                  Unknown
                  p22atuz
                    Point Mutation
                    p40atuza
                      Unknown
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                      Human Disease / Model
                      No data available
                      Sequence Targeting Reagents
                      No data available
                      Fish
                      Antibodies
                      Name Type Antigen Genes Isotypes Host Organism
                      Ab1-h2bpolyclonal
                        IgGRabbit
                        Ab2-tubamonoclonal
                          IgG1Mouse
                          Ab3-h4polyclonal
                            IgGRabbit
                            Ab15-h3polyclonal
                              IgGRabbit
                              1 - 4 of 4
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                              Orthology
                              No data available
                              Engineered Foreign Genes
                              Marker Marker Type Name
                              EGFPEFGEGFP
                              1 - 1 of 1
                              Show
                              Mapping
                              No data available