Cytoplasmic streaming in Drosophila oocytes varies with kinesin activity and correlates with the microtubule cytoskeleton architecture

Cells can localize molecules asymmetrically through the combined action of cytoplasmic streaming, which circulates their fluid contents, and specific anchoring mechanisms. Streaming also contributes to the distribution of nutrients and organelles such as chloroplasts in plants, the asymmetric positi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2012-09, Vol.109 (38), p.15109-15114
Main Authors: Ganguly, Sujoy, Williams, Lucy S, Palacios, Isabel M, Goldstein, Raymond E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological Sciences
Biological Transport
Biophysics - methods
chloroplasts
Correlation analysis
Correlations
Cytoplasm
Cytoplasm - metabolism
Cytoplasmic Streaming
Cytoskeleton
Cytoskeleton - metabolism
Drosophila
Drosophila melanogaster - metabolism
Enzyme kinetics
Female
Insects
kinesin
Kinesins - metabolism
mammals
Messenger RNA
Microtubules
Microtubules - metabolism
Models, Statistical
Mutation
nutrients
Oocytes
Oocytes - cytology
Oocytes - metabolism
Physical Sciences
rheology
Rheology - methods
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
Speed
Streaming
zygote
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Summary:Cells can localize molecules asymmetrically through the combined action of cytoplasmic streaming, which circulates their fluid contents, and specific anchoring mechanisms. Streaming also contributes to the distribution of nutrients and organelles such as chloroplasts in plants, the asymmetric position of the meiotic spindle in mammalian embryos, and the developmental potential of the zygote, yet little is known quantitatively about the relationship between streaming and the motor activity which drives it. Here we use Particle Image Velocimetry to quantify the statistical properties of Kinesin-dependent streaming during mid-oogenesis in Drosophila . We find that streaming can be used to detect subtle changes in Kinesin activity and that the flows reflect the architecture of the microtubule cytoskeleton. Furthermore, based on characterization of the rheology of the cytoplasm in vivo, we establish estimates of the number of Kinesins required to drive the observed streaming. Using this in vivo data as the basis of a model for transport, we suggest that the disordered character of transport at mid-oogenesis, as revealed by streaming, is an important component of the localization dynamics of the body plan determinant oskar mRNA.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1203575109