Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
09:41
Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes
Published on: September 20, 2013
Drosophila CENP-C is essential for centromere identity
Bernardo Orr1, Claudio E Sunkel
1Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal.
Chromosoma
|September 24, 2010
Summary
Depleting CENP-C in Drosophila cells causes a kinetochore null phenotype, disrupting spindle assembly and chromosome segregation. CENP-C is essential for centromere identity, impacting inner kinetochore protein localization.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Centromeres are crucial for accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis.
- Kinetochore assembly relies on specialized proteins like CENP-A (CID in Drosophila) and CENP-C.
- The exact function of CENP-C in kinetochore assembly is debated, especially in Drosophila.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of CENP-C in Drosophila melanogaster.
- To determine the impact of CENP-C depletion on kinetochore assembly and function.
Main Methods:
- RNA interference (RNAi) was used to deplete CENP-C in Drosophila S2 cells.
- Phenotypic analysis of kinetochore assembly, spindle checkpoint, and kinetochore-microtubule interactions.
Main Results:
- CENP-C depletion resulted in a kinetochore null phenotype.
- Spindle checkpoint, kinetochore-microtubule interactions, and spindle size were severely misregulated.
- CENP-C is critical for centromere identity, as evidenced by the failure of CID and other proteins to localize.
Conclusions:
- CENP-C is essential for establishing centromere identity in Drosophila.
- CENP-C plays a fundamental role in kinetochore assembly and function.
- CENP-C may perform structural roles analogous to human centromere-associated proteins absent in Drosophila.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Histone Variants at the Centromere
Histone variants are the histone proteins with structural and sequence variations. These variants may be regarded as “mutant” forms that replace their canonical histone counterparts in the nucleosomes. Specific post-translational modifications on the histone variants enable further chromatin complexity and regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The most common histone variants are from histone H2A, H2B, and linker histone H1 families. However, several variants of histone H3 variants are also...
02:25Centrosome Duplication
The primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells is the centrosome. A centrosome has two cylindrical centrioles at its core. Each centriole consists of nine sets of three microtubules held together by proteins. The centrioles are positioned at right angles to each other and surrounded by a shapeless protein cloud called the pericentriolar matrix, or pericentriolar material (PCM).
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
02:25Centrosome Duplication
The primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells is the centrosome. A centrosome has two cylindrical centrioles at its core. Each centriole consists of nine sets of three microtubules held together by proteins. The centrioles are positioned at right angles to each other and surrounded by a shapeless protein cloud called the pericentriolar matrix, or pericentriolar material (PCM).
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
01:13Centrioles and Centrosomes
Most animal cells comprise a pair of centrioles together called a centrosome. The cell duplicates its centrosome and contains two centrosomes side-by-side, which begin to move apart during the prophase. As the centrosomes migrate to two different sides of the cell, microtubules start extending from each centrosome toward the other end. The mitotic spindle is composed of the centrosomes and their emerging microtubules.
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or "prometaphase,"...
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or "prometaphase,"...
02:20Cohesins
Cohesin protein complexes are a molecular glue that holds two sister chromatids together. They play an important role both in mitosis and meiosis. In mitosis, all cohesin complexes present on the chromosomes are removed before the start of the anaphase stage.
Cohesin complexes in Meiotic Division
Meiosis involves two distinct rounds of chromosomal segregation and cell divisions— Meiosis I followed by Meiosis II – producing four daughter cells. Meiosis I includes the separation of homologous...
Cohesin complexes in Meiotic Division
Meiosis involves two distinct rounds of chromosomal segregation and cell divisions— Meiosis I followed by Meiosis II – producing four daughter cells. Meiosis I includes the separation of homologous...
02:17Separation of Sister Chromatids
At the transition from prophase to metaphase, there is a reduction in cohesion along the chromosomal arms, resulting in the resolution of sister chromatids. However, residual cohesin connections remain to hold the sister chromatids together until the transition from metaphase to anaphase. The residual connection prevents any premature separation of sister chromatids, blocking the risks of aneuploidy within the daughter cells.
At the onset of anaphase, separase, a proteolytic enzyme, is...
At the onset of anaphase, separase, a proteolytic enzyme, is...