Article

Drosophila neural progenitor polarity and asymmetric division.

Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, The National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604.
Biology of the Cell (impact factor: 3.6). 02/2005; 97(1):63-74. DOI:10.1042/BC20040064 pp.63-74
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT In the Drosophila embryonic central nervous system, the neural precursor cells called neuroblasts undergo a number of asymmetric divisions along the apical-basal axis to give rise to different daughter cells of distinct fates. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding the mechanisms of these asymmetric cell divisions. We discuss proteins that are localized at distinct domains of cortex in the neuroblasts and their role in generating asymmetry. We also review uniformly cortical localized factors and actin cytoskeleton-associated motor proteins with regard to their potential role to serve as a link between distinct cortical domains in the neuroblasts. In this review, asymmetric divisions of sensory organ precursor and larval neuroblasts are also briefly discussed.

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Keywords

actin cytoskeleton-associated motor proteins
 
apical-basal axis
 
asymmetric cell divisions
 
asymmetric divisions
 
cortex
 
different daughter cells
 
distinct cortical domains
 
distinct domains
 
distinct fates
 
Drosophila embryonic central nervous system
 
larval neuroblasts
 
localized
 
neural precursor cells
 
neuroblasts
 
potential role
 
review summarizes recent progress
 

Hongyan Wang