Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026
05:48
A Behavioral Assay for Mechanosensation of MARCM-based Clones in Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: December 30, 2015
Cell proliferation and DNA replication defects in a Drosophila MCM2 mutant
J E Treisman1, P J Follette, P H O'Farrell
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA.
Genes & Development
|July 15, 1995
Summary
Drosophila DmMCM2, homologous to yeast MCM2, is crucial for DNA replication. Its disruption inhibits cell proliferation and prolongs S phase, suggesting a conserved role in cell cycle regulation.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The yeast MCM2, MCM3, and MCM5/CDC46 genes are essential for DNA replication.
- These genes are proposed to function as licensing factors, ensuring one round of DNA replication per cell cycle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize a Drosophila homolog of the yeast MCM2 gene.
- To investigate the role of the Drosophila MCM2 homolog (DmMCM2) in DNA replication and cell proliferation.
Main Methods:
- Identification of a Drosophila gene highly homologous to yeast MCM2.
- Generation of a P-element insertion mutant to disrupt DmMCM2 transcription.
- Analysis of cell proliferation in imaginal discs and central nervous system (CNS).
- Assessment of S phase duration in embryonic and larval CNS.
Main Results:
- A P-element insertion in DmMCM2 inhibited cell proliferation in imaginal discs and CNS.
- Disruption of DmMCM2 led to a prolonged S phase in the embryonic and larval CNS.
- DmMCM2 expression patterns in embryos correlated with S-phase cells.
Conclusions:
- Drosophila DmMCM2 plays a critical role in regulating DNA replication.
- The function of DmMCM2 in DNA replication is conserved between yeast and Drosophila.
- DmMCM2 is essential for normal cell proliferation during development.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Negative Regulator Molecules
Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
02:04Polytene Chromosomes
Polytene chromosomes are giant interphase chromosomes with several DNA strands placed side by side. They were discovered in the year 1881 by Balbiani in salivary glands, intestine, muscles, malpighian tubules, and hypoderm of larvae Chironomus plumosus. Hence, these are also called "Salivary gland chromosomes." These are found in insects of the order Diptera and Collembola; in certain organs of mammals; and synergids, antipodes of flowering plants. Polytene chromosomes are also regularly...
02:36DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle
In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
01:20Mismatch Repair
Organisms are capable of detecting and fixing nucleotide mismatches that occur during DNA replication. This sophisticated process requires identifying the new strand and replacing the erroneous bases with correct nucleotides. Mismatch repair is coordinated by many proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
02:36DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle
In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...