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The microcephaly protein Asp regulates neuroepithelium morphogenesis by controlling the spatial distribution of

Maria A Rujano1, Luis Sanchez-Pulido, Carole Pennetier

  • 1UMR144, CNRS- Institut Curie, 12 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France.

Nature Cell Biology
|October 22, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Mutations in ASPM cause microcephaly. Drosophila Asp regulates brain size and neuroepithelium shape by interacting with myosin II, impacting nuclear migration and tissue architecture.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Mutations in ASPM are a primary cause of microcephaly, a condition of reduced brain size.
  • ASPM's precise role in neural development and invertebrate brain morphogenesis is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of the Drosophila ASPM orthologue, Asp.
  • To elucidate Asp's role in brain size regulation and neuroepithelium morphogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Characterization of Drosophila asp mutants.
  • Analysis of neuroepithelium morphogenesis and mitotic function.
  • Investigation of Asp's interaction with myosin II and its effect on polarized distribution.

Main Results:

  • Asp mutants exhibit significant defects in brain size and neuroepithelium morphogenesis.
  • Brain size reduction is linked to Asp's mitotic function.
  • Asp regulates tissue shape via interaction with myosin II, affecting its apico-basal distribution.
  • Loss of Asp leads to mislocalization of myosin II, causing defects in interkinetic nuclear migration and tissue architecture.

Conclusions:

  • Asp is crucial for both brain size control and neuroepithelium morphogenesis in Drosophila.
  • Asp regulates tissue shape and architecture through myosin II-dependent structural and mechanical processes.
  • Asp maintains force balance and tissue cohesiveness during neurodevelopment.

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