F. Scaerou et al., The ZW10 and Rough Deal checkpoint proteins function together in a large, evolutionarily conserved complex targeted to the kinetochore, J CELL SCI, 114(17), 2001, pp. 3103-3114
The zeste-white 10 (zw10) and rough deal (rod) genes of Drosophila both enc
ode kinetochore components, and mutations in either gene greatly increase t
he missegregation of sister chromatids during mitosis. Here, we present gen
etic, cytological and biochemical evidence for a close, evolutionarily cons
erved relationship between the ROD and ZW10 proteins. We show that the phen
otypes caused by disruption of either gene's function are similar in Drosop
hila and in C elegans. No additive effects are observed in zw10; rod double
null mutants. In flies, the two proteins always colocalize and, moreover,
require each other for their recruitment to the mitotic apparatus. The huma
n ROD and ZW10 homologs also colocalize on HeLa cell kinetochores or kineto
chore microtubules throughout most but not all of mitosis. Finally, we show
that in both Drosophila and human cells, ROD and ZW10 are in fact physical
ly associated, and in Drosophila these proteins are together constituents o
f a large (700-900 kDa), soluble macromolecular complex.