Contractile proteins in Drosophila development

• Published in: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1990, Vol.582 (1), p.233-251
• Main Authors: Kiehart, D.P. (Harvard University, Cambridge, MA), Ketchum, A, Young, P, Lutz, D, Alfenito, M.R, Chang, X.J, Awoboluyi, M, Pesacreta, T.C, Inque, S, Stewart, C.T, Chen, T.L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actins - physiology; Amino Acid Sequence; AMINO ACID SEQUENCES; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; ANTICORPS MONOCLONAL; ANTICUERPOS MONOCLONALES; Base Sequence; BIOLOGIA; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGIE; BIOLOGY; Cell cycle, cell proliferation; Cell Movement; Cell physiology; CELL STRUCTURE; CELLULAR BIOLOGY; CODE GENETIQUE; CODIGO GENETICO; Contractile Proteins - physiology; Cytoskeleton - physiology; DESARROLLO EMBRIONARIO; DEVELOPPEMENT EMBRYONNAIRE; DNA; DROSOPHILA; Drosophila - embryology; Drosophila - genetics; EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT; ESTRUCTURA CELULAR; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENETIC CODE; GLOBULINAS; GLOBULINE; GLOBULINS; LITERATURE REVIEWS; Molecular and cellular biology; MOLECULAR SEQUENCE DATA; MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES; MOUVEMENT; MOVEMENT; MOVIMIENTO; Mutation; MYOSIN; Myosins - genetics; Myosins - physiology; NUCLEOTIDE; NUCLEOTIDES; NUCLEOTIDOS; PEPTIDE; PEPTIDES; PEPTIDOS; POLYPEPTIDES; PROTEINAS; PROTEINE; PROTEINS; STRUCTURE CELLULAIRE
• ISSN: 0077-8923; 1749-6632
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1990.tb21683.x

In summary, we have used a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of actomyosin-based motility during Drosophila embryogenesis. We have documented the movements of early embryogenesis with modern, video methods. We have characterized the cytoplasmic myosin polypeptide, made specific polyclonal antisera to the molecule, studied its distribution during early embryogenesis, cloned and partially characterized the gene that encodes it, and have recently completed the nucleotide sequence of a nearly full length cDNA that encodes the entire protein-coding region. We have initiated studies on myosin function in living embryos both by direct microinjection of antibodies and through classical genetics. To better understand how myosin function is regulated, we have begun analysis of its light chains. Finally, to investigate the molecular mechanism by which its function is integrated into a labile cytoskeleton, whose architecture is constantly changing, we have also investigated Drosophila spectrins. Together, these studies are designed to shed light on the dynamics of biologic form at the cellular level, with current focus on such complex processes as cytokinesis and morphogenesis.