Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026

Visualizing Neuroblast Cytokinesis During C. elegans Embryogenesis
Published on: March 13, 2014
Centralspindlin is partially required for C. elegans anchor cell specification, vulval induction and morphogenesis.
Tatsuya Kato1, Olga Skorobogata1, Christian E Rocheleau2
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Centralspindlin is crucial for cell division during Caenorhabditis elegans vulval development, ensuring proper organ formation and cell signaling for gonad and vulva development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Vulval development in Caenorhabditis elegans is a model system for organogenesis.
- It involves coordinated cell division and signaling pathways like LIN-12/Notch and LET-23/EGFR.
- The centralspindlin complex (ZEN-4/KIF23 and CYK-4/RacGAP1) is vital for embryonic cytokinesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the centralspindlin complex in Caenorhabditis elegans vulval development.
- To understand its specific functions in somatic gonad and vulval cell cytokinesis during postembryonic development.
Main Methods:
- Genetic analysis of centralspindlin function in Caenorhabditis elegans.
- Observation of vulval development and cell division.
- Analysis of anchor cell specification and vulval induction.
Main Results:
- Centralspindlin is required for somatic gonad cytokinesis and anchor cell specification, crucial for vulval induction.
- During postembryonic development, centralspindlin is partially required for vulval cell cytokinesis, impacting morphogenesis more than induction.
- The GAP domain of CYK-4/RacGAP1 is not essential for gonad and vulva development.
Conclusions:
- Centralspindlin exhibits distinct requirements for cytokinesis during postembryonic gonad and vulva development compared to early embryogenesis.
- Its role shifts from essential for cytokinesis completion to partially required for morphogenesis in later developmental stages.
More Related Videos
10:41Tracking and Quantifying Developmental Processes in C. elegans Using Open-source Tools
Published on: December 16, 2015
07:52In Vitro Reconstitution of Spatial Cell Contact Patterns with Isolated Caenorhabditis elegans Embryo Blastomeres and Adhesive Polystyrene Beads
Published on: November 26, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Centrosome Duplication
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
Spindle Assembly
In most cells, centrosomes are the primary microtubule nucleation centers. In the centrosome-mediated pathway, the G2-prophase transition triggers centrosome maturation and increased microtubule nucleation. Progressive nucleation results in a...
Microtubules in Signaling
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration
Centrioles and Centrosomes
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or...