Expression of crumbs confers apical character on plasma membrane domains of ectodermalpithelia of Drosophila

Article Abstract:

The crumbs (crb) protein is involved in polarizing epithelial cells derived from ectoderm in Drosophila. Epithelial cells become polarized very early in embryogenesis into an apical domain and a basolateral domain. Overexpression of the crb gene results in an expansion of the apical domain at the expense of the basolateral domain. A mutant crb gene causes epithelial cells to lose their polarity and die. The crb protein may be involved in the formation of junctions in the cell that maintain the polarity.

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G protein signaling and asymmetric cell division

Article Abstract:

This review discusses activation of heterotrimeric G proteins by the Drosophila GoLoco protein Partner of Inscuteable and their role in controlling asymmetric cell division. The signaling process establishes a planar polarity through the modulation of the actin cytoskeleton.

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Importin beta is a mitotic target of the small GTPase Ran in spindle assembly

Article Abstract:

Research demonstrates that mitotic spinndle assembly is mediated by RanGTP, which prompts the nuclear transport factor importin beta to discharge aster promoting activity components and a microtubule-associated proteien, NuMA.

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