Cf. Cullen et H. Ohkura, Msps protein is localized to acentrosomal poles to ensure bipolarity of Drosophila meiotic spindles, NAT CELL BI, 3(7), 2001, pp. 637-642
The female meiotic spindle is commonly formed in a centrosome-independent m
anner. Here we report the identification of proteins at acentrosomal poles
in the female meiotic spindle of Drosophila, The acentrosomal poles contain
at least two proteins, Mini-spindles (Msps) and D-TACC, which are also ass
ociated with mitotic centrosomes. These proteins interact with one another
and are both required for maintaining the bipolarity of acentrosomal spindl
es. The polar localization of Msps is dependent on D-TACC and Ncd, a kinesi
n-like microtubule motor. We propose that the polar localization of Msps me
diated by D-TACC and Ncd may be crucial for the stabilization of meiotic sp
indle bipolarity.