ABSTRACT
The myb proto-oncogenes are thought to have a role in the cell division cycle. We have examined this possibility by genetic analysis in Drosophila melanogaster, which possesses a single myb gene. We have described previously two temperature-sensitive, recessive lethal mutants in Drosophila myb (Dm myb). The phenotypes of these mutants revealed a requirement for myb in diverse cellular lineages throughout the course of Drosophila development. We now report a cellular explanation for these findings by showing that Dm myb is required for both mitosis and prevention of endoreduplication in wing cells. Myb apparently acts at or near the time of the G2/M transition. The two mutant alleles of Dm myb produce the same cellular phenotype, although the responsible mutations are located in different functional domains of the gene product. The mutant phenotype can be partially suppressed by ectopic expression of either cdc2 or string, two genes that are known to promote the transition from G2 to M. We conclude that Dm myb is required for completion of cell division and may serve two independent functions: promotion of mitosis, on the one hand, and prevention of endoreduplication when cells are arrested in G2, on the other.
Subject(s)
Drosophila melanogaster/genetics , G2 Phase/physiology , Mitosis/physiology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/physiology , Trans-Activators/physiology , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Cell Cycle/genetics , Cell Cycle/physiology , Cell Division/genetics , Cell Division/physiology , Cell Nucleus/genetics , Cell Nucleus/physiology , Cell Survival/genetics , Cell Survival/physiology , DNA Mutational Analysis , DNA Replication/genetics , DNA Replication/physiology , Diploidy , Molecular Sequence Data , Mutation/genetics , Mutation/physiology , Phenotype , Polyploidy , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb , Sequence Homology, Amino Acid , Temperature , Trans-Activators/genetics , Wings, Animal/abnormalities , Wings, Animal/cytology , Wings, Animal/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Telomeres are essential for chromosome stability, but their functions at specific cell-cycle stages are unknown. Telomeres are now shown to have a role in chromosome separation during mitosis. In telomeric DNA mutants of Tetrahymena thermophila, created by expression of a telomerase RNA with an altered template sequence, division of the germline nucleus was severely delayed or blocked in anaphase. The mutant chromatids failed to separate completely at the midzone, becoming stretched to up to twice their normal length. These results suggest a physical block in mutant telomere separation.
