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We describe a recessive, maternal-effect lethal mutation of Drosophila, gnu. gnu uncouples nuclear division from many cytoplasmic events of mitosis in the Drosophila embryo. Embryos from homozygous females are defective in nuclear division, but not in DNA replication, and therefore develop a small number of giant nuclei. Centrosomes divide independently of nuclear division and migrate to the surface of the syncytial blastoderm. There they nucleate microtubules into asters, which appear normal at first but become very large. Only later, when the giant nuclei begin to break down, are spindles sometimes formed. The cortical actin of these embryos develops into a characteristic network.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/0092-8674(86)90666-5

Type

Journal article

Journal

Cell

Publication Date

01/08/1986

Volume

46

Pages

457 - 468

Keywords

Actins, Animals, Cell Division, Cell Nucleus, Centrioles, DNA, Drosophila melanogaster, Female, Genes, Lethal, Microtubules, Spindle Apparatus