Localization of actin networks during early development of Tubifex embryos

In precleavage zygotes of Tubifex, actin filaments segregate to the animal and vegetal poles forming the polar actin filament networks (AFNs). In this study, the fate of the polar AFNs during early development of Tubifex embryos has been followed using rhodamine-phalloidin as a specific stain for F-actin. During the first two cleavages, which are unequal and meridional, the polar AFNs are retained at the regions of cells corresponding to the poles of the precleavage zygote; thereby, they are segregated to the CD-cell at the 2-cell stage then to the D-cell at the 4-cell stage. As the mitotic apparatus forms in the D-cell, however, the vegetal polar AFN translocates toward the animal pole of the cell where the mitotic apparatus is located and unites with the animal polar AFN there. This redistribution of the AFNs is impaired by colchicine treatment, suggesting the involvement of microtubules. Thereafter, the unified AFN is found to be associated with nuclear regions of the macromeres of the D-cell line, and finally partitioned to the teloblast precursors 2d and 4d and an endodermal cell 4D. Cytochalasin B experiments indicate that the AFNs play a cytoskeletal role in generating and maintaining the spatial organization of the cytoplasm which gives rise to the intracellular localization of the cytoplasm and the mitotic apparatus orientations. The developmental and cellular significance of the AFNs is discussed in relation to the localization of developmental potential and the regulation of the mitotic apparatus organization in the Tubifex embryo.