Cell division: first embryonic mitosis (WP1411)

Caenorhabditis elegans

"Prior to fertilization, C. elegans oocytes are arrested in meiotic prophase with nuclei containing two copies of the diploid genome packaged into recombined bivalent chromosomes. The two rounds of meiotic chromosome segregation that generate the haploid oocyte pronucleus are completed in the zygote after the oocytes are fertilized. During each meiotic division, chromosome segregation is accomplished by a small acentriolar meiotic spindle that forms in the embryo anterior. During anaphase of meiosis I and again in meiosis II, the meiotic spindle associates with the cortex in an end-on fashion, and a highly asymmetric cytokinesis-like event extrudes a polar body (Figure 2; Albertson and Thomson, 1993; Clark-Maguire and Mains, 1994; Yang et al., 2003). In addition to the haploid pronucleus, the sperm brings a pair of centrioles into the oocyte, which lacks centrioles due to their degradation during oogenesis. As meiosis completes, the haploid oocyte and sperm-derived pronuclei, located at opposite ends of the embryo increase in size, becoming visible by DIC microscopy. After entering the oocyte, the sperm-derived centriole pair recruits pericentriolar material and acquires the ability to nucleate microtubules (O'Connell, 2000; Pelletier et al., 2004). Subsequently, the two sperm-derived centrioles separate, forming two centrosomes positioned on either side of the paternal pronucleus. Coincident with chromosome condensation during mitotic prophase, the pronuclei migrate towards each other. After the pronuclei meet, the nuclear-centrosome complex moves to the center of the embryo and rotates to align with the long axis of the embryo (Albertson, 1984; Hyman and White, 1987). The miotitc spindle begins to move towards the embryo posterior during metaphase (Labbe et al., 2004; Oegema et al., 2001), and asymmetric elongation during anaphase contributes to its posterior displacement (Albertson, 1984; Grill et al., 2001). Since the cleavage furrow bisects the mitotic spindle, this displacement results in an asymmetric first cleavage (For more on the mechanisms that generate this asymmetry see Asymmetric cell division and axis formation in the embryo). " From "Cell division" by Karen Oegema, WormBook

Authors

Karen Yook , Kristina Hanspers , Martina Summer-Kutmon , Egon Willighagen , Alex Pico , Eric Weitz , and Stefan Raats

Activity

last edited

Discuss this pathway

Check for ongoing discussions or start your own.

Cited In

Are you planning to include this pathway in your next publication? See How to Cite and add a link here to your paper once it's online.

Organisms

Caenorhabditis elegans

Communities

WormBase

Annotations

Cell Type Ontology

animal zygote animal cell

Pathway Ontology

pathway pertinent to DNA replication and repair, cell cycle, maintenance of genomic integrity, RNA and protein biosynthesis

Participants

Label Type Compact URI Comment
SCC-1 GeneProduct wormbase:F10G7.4
PLL-1 GeneProduct wormbase:K10F12.3
ZYG-1 GeneProduct wormbase:F59E12.2
T13E8.2 GeneProduct wormbase:T13E8.2
T13E8.3 GeneProduct wormbase:T13E8.3
SPD-5 GeneProduct wormbase:F56A3.4
ANC-1 GeneProduct wormbase:ZK973.6
TBA-1 GeneProduct wormbase:F26E4.8
UNC-60A GeneProduct wormbase:C38C3.5
DYRB-1 GeneProduct wormbase:T24H10.6
CYK-1 GeneProduct wormbase:F11H8.4
TBB-1 GeneProduct wormbase:K01G5.7
TAC-1 GeneProduct wormbase:Y54E2A.3
Y71F9AL.14 GeneProduct wormbase:Y71F9AL.14
AIR-1 GeneProduct wormbase:K07C11.2
DLC-1 GeneProduct wormbase:T26A5.9
MEL-11 GeneProduct wormbase:C06C3.1
MIX-1 GeneProduct wormbase:M106.1
Y19D2B.1 GeneProduct wormbase:Y19D2B.1
SAN-1 GeneProduct wormbase:ZC328.4
SMC-3 GeneProduct wormbase:Y47D3A.26
AIR-2 GeneProduct wormbase:B0207.4
UNC-83 GeneProduct wormbase:W01A11.3
DNC-1 GeneProduct wormbase:ZK593.5
MFDF-1 GeneProduct wormbase:C50F4.11
HIM-1 GeneProduct wormbase:F28B3.7
TBA-4 GeneProduct wormbase:F44F4.11
CLASP GeneProduct wormbase:R107.6
ICP-1/CeINCEP GeneProduct wormbase:Y39G10AR.13
SPD-1 GeneProduct wormbase:Y34D9A.4
IMA-2 GeneProduct wormbase:F26B1.3 GO:0007084
NDC-80 GeneProduct wormbase:W01B6.9
LIS-1 GeneProduct wormbase:T03F6.5
NUD-1 GeneProduct ensembl:WBGene00003829
TAC-1 GeneProduct wormbase:Y54E2A.3
LET-754 GeneProduct wormbase:C29E4.8
Matefin/SUN-1 GeneProduct wormbase:F57B1.2
ZYG-12 GeneProduct wormbase:ZK546.1
CeCENP-C GeneProduct wormbase:T03F1.9
PFD-2 GeneProduct wormbase:H20J04.5
Ce-BAF-1 GeneProduct wormbase:B0464.7
KBP-1 GeneProduct wormbase:Y92C3B.1
TIM-1 GeneProduct wormbase:Y75B8A.22
KNL-3 GeneProduct wormbase:T10B5.6
F54B3.3 GeneProduct wormbase:F54B3.3
PFD-3 GeneProduct wormbase:T06G6.9
Y47D3A.29 GeneProduct wormbase:Y47D3A.29
PLK-2 GeneProduct wormbase:C14B9.4 GO:0000003 GO:0000003 GO:0007077 GO:0000910 GO:0009792 GO:0008340 GO:0051301 GO:0040035 GO:0040038 GO:0051726 GO:0002119 GO:0045132
MIS-12 GeneProduct wormbase:Y47G6A.24
T16G12.1 GeneProduct wormbase:T16G12.1
GPB-1 GeneProduct wormbase:F13D12.7
ZEN-4 GeneProduct wormbase:M03D4.1 GO:0035046 GO:0031991 GO:0051301 GO:0000910 GO:0040038 GO:0009792 GO:0051256
BIR-1 GeneProduct wormbase:T27F2.3
ANI-1 GeneProduct wormbase:Y49E10.19
AIR-1 GeneProduct wormbase:K07C11.2
CYK-1 GeneProduct wormbase:F11H8.4 GO:0000003
NUD-1 GeneProduct ensembl:WBGene00003829
BIR-1 GeneProduct wormbase:T27F2.3
ZYG-9 GeneProduct wormbase:F22B5.7
DNC-1 GeneProduct wormbase:ZK593.5
ROD-1 GeneProduct wormbase:F55G1.4
Ce-emerin/EMR-1 GeneProduct wormbase:M01D7.6
g-tubulin/TBG-1 GeneProduct wormbase:F58A4.8
LRG-1 GeneProduct wormbase:F55H2.4
CeMCAK GeneProduct wormbase:K11D9.1
MDF-2 GeneProduct wormbase:Y69A2AR.30
ARP-1 GeneProduct wormbase:Y53F4B.22 GO:0002009
LIS-1 GeneProduct wormbase:T03F6.5
CSC-1 GeneProduct wormbase:Y48E1B.12
DYCI-1 GeneProduct wormbase:C17H12.1
SAS-6 GeneProduct wormbase:Y45F10D.9
LET-99 GeneProduct wormbase:K08E7.3
TBA-2 GeneProduct wormbase:C47B2.3
BUB-3 GeneProduct wormbase:Y54G9A.6
TAG-170 GeneProduct wormbase:C05D11.3
ANI-1 GeneProduct wormbase:Y49E10.19 GO:0040002 GO:0030865 GO:0009792
KBP-1 GeneProduct wormbase:R13F6.1
21ur-13952 GeneProduct wormbase:C36E8.9 C36E8.9
GO:0035046
HCP-6 GeneProduct wormbase:Y110A7A.1
KBP-5 GeneProduct wormbase:C34B2.2
Spc25/KBP-3 GeneProduct wormbase:F26H11.1
RHO-1 GeneProduct wormbase:Y51H4A.3
ICP-1/CeINCENP GeneProduct wormbase:Y39G10AR.13
UNC-59 GeneProduct wormbase:W09C5.2
LET-92 GeneProduct wormbase:F38H4.9
DNC-4 GeneProduct wormbase:C26B2.1
CeCENP-A GeneProduct wormbase:F58A4.3
AIR-2 GeneProduct wormbase:B0207.4
21ur-15150 GeneProduct wormbase:K10D11.8 GO:0035046 GO:0051301 GO:0000910
WBPaper0006352
ZYG-9 GeneProduct wormbase:F22B5.7
RBX-1 GeneProduct wormbase:ZK287.5
CAP-G GeneProduct wormbase:F55C5.4
CAP-2 GeneProduct wormbase:M106.5 GO:0000578
CYK-4 GeneProduct wormbase:K08E3.6 GO:0000003 GO:0000003 GO:0002009 GO:0000910 GO:0007109 GO:0009792 GO:0000281 GO:0051301 GO:0040011 GO:0040035 GO:0010171 GO:0040038
Ce-MAN1/LEM-2 GeneProduct wormbase:W01G7.5
PFD-5 GeneProduct wormbase:R151.9
SPD-5 GeneProduct wormbase:F56A3.4
BEN-1 GeneProduct wormbase:C54C6.2 GO:0035046
DLI-1 GeneProduct wormbase:C39E9.14
ZYG-12 GeneProduct wormbase:ZK546.1
KBP-2 GeneProduct wormbase:F26F4.13
LET-21/Ect-2 GeneProduct wormbase:T19E10.1
SAS-5 GeneProduct wormbase:F35B12.5
HCP-2 GeneProduct wormbase:T06E4.1
KLE-2 GeneProduct wormbase:C29E4.2
CYK-4 GeneProduct wormbase:K08E3.6
GPC-2 GeneProduct wormbase:F08B6.2
HCP-1 GeneProduct wormbase:ZK1055.1
SPD-2 GeneProduct wormbase:F32H2.3
BUB-1 GeneProduct wormbase:R06C7.8
nuf-2/HIM-10 GeneProduct wormbase:R12B2.4
CZW-1 GeneProduct wormbase:F20D12.4
DHC-1 GeneProduct wormbase:T21E12.4
DNC-2 GeneProduct wormbase:C28H8.12
PFN-1 GeneProduct wormbase:Y18D10A.20
PLK-1 GeneProduct wormbase:C14B9.4 GO:0000003 GO:0000003 GO:0007077 GO:0000910 GO:0009792 GO:0008340 GO:0051301 GO:0040035 GO:0040038 GO:0051726 GO:0002119 GO:0045132
LET-502 GeneProduct wormbase:C10H11.9
T26A5.8 GeneProduct wormbase:T26A5.8
TBB-2 GeneProduct wormbase:C36E8.5
ZEN-4 GeneProduct wormbase:M03D4.1
SAS-4 GeneProduct wormbase:F10E9.8
NMY-2 GeneProduct wormbase:F20G4.3
BIR-1 GeneProduct wormbase:T27F2.3
CeGrip-1/GIP-1 GeneProduct wormbase:H04J21.3
SCC-3 GeneProduct wormbase:F18E2.3
KLP-19 GeneProduct wormbase:Y43F4B.6
UNC-84 GeneProduct wormbase:F54B11.3
DNC-2 GeneProduct wormbase:C28H8.12
UNC-61 GeneProduct wormbase:Y50E8A.4
SMC-4 GeneProduct wormbase:F35G12.8
KNL-2 GeneProduct wormbase:K06A5.4
SPD-2 GeneProduct wormbase:F32H2.3
MLC-4 GeneProduct wormbase:C56G7.1
CUL-3 GeneProduct wormbase:Y108G3AL.1 GO:0035046
PUF-3 GeneProduct wormbase:Y45F10A.2
CeLamin/LMN-1 GeneProduct wormbase:DY3.2
MEL-28 GeneProduct wormbase:C38D4.3
CeGrip-2/GIP-2 GeneProduct wormbase:C45G3.3
MBK-2 GeneProduct wormbase:F49E11.1
SPD-5 GeneProduct wormbase:F56A3.4
PAR-5 GeneProduct wormbase:M117.2
UNC-37 GeneProduct wormbase:W02D3.9
KNL-1 GeneProduct wormbase:C02F5.1

References

  1. The binding of organic phosphates to human methaemoglobin A. Perturbation of the polymerization of proteins by effectors. Baghurst PA, Nichol LW. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1975 Nov 18;412(1):168–80. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  2. ZYG-9, a Caenorhabditis elegans protein required for microtubule organization and function, is a component of meiotic and mitotic spindle poles. Matthews LR, Carter P, Thierry-Mieg D, Kemphues K. J Cell Biol. 1998 Jun 1;141(5):1159–68. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  3. cyk-1: a C. elegans FH gene required for a late step in embryonic cytokinesis. Swan KA, Severson AF, Carter JC, Martin PR, Schnabel H, Schnabel R, et al. J Cell Sci. 1998 Jul 30;111 ( Pt 14):2017–27. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  4. The dynactin complex is required for cleavage plane specification in early Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. Skop AR, White JG. Curr Biol. 1998 Oct 8;8(20):1110–6. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  5. HCP-1, a protein involved in chromosome segregation, is localized to the centromere of mitotic chromosomes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Moore LL, Morrison M, Roth MB. J Cell Biol. 1999 Nov 1;147(3):471–80. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  6. The polo-like kinase PLK-1 is required for nuclear envelope breakdown and the completion of meiosis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Chase D, Serafinas C, Ashcroft N, Kosinski M, Longo D, Ferris DK, et al. Genesis. 2000 Jan;26(1):26–41. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  7. The survivin-like C. elegans BIR-1 protein acts with the Aurora-like kinase AIR-2 to affect chromosomes and the spindle midzone. Speliotes EK, Uren A, Vaux D, Horvitz HR. Mol Cell. 2000 Aug;6(2):211–23. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  8. Functional genomic analysis of C. elegans chromosome I by systematic RNA interference. Fraser AG, Kamath RS, Zipperlen P, Martinez-Campos M, Sohrmann M, Ahringer J. Nature. 2000 Nov 16;408(6810):325–30. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  9. RNAi analysis of genes expressed in the ovary of Caenorhabditis elegans. Piano F, Schetter AJ, Mangone M, Stein L, Kemphues KJ. Curr Biol. 2000 Dec 14;10(24):1619–22. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  10. Spindle dynamics and the role of gamma-tubulin in early Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. Strome S, Powers J, Dunn M, Reese K, Malone CJ, White J, et al. Mol Biol Cell. 2001 Jun;12(6):1751–64. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  11. Evolutionarily conserved nuclear migration genes required for early embryonic development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dawe AL, Caldwell KA, Harris PM, Morris NR, Caldwell GA. Dev Genes Evol. 2001 Sep;211(8–9):434–41. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  12. The Caenorhabditis elegans par-5 gene encodes a 14-3-3 protein required for cellular asymmetry in the early embryo. Morton DG, Shakes DC, Nugent S, Dichoso D, Wang W, Golden A, et al. Dev Biol. 2002 Jan 1;241(1):47–58. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  13. C. elegans condensin promotes mitotic chromosome architecture, centromere organization, and sister chromatid segregation during mitosis and meiosis. Hagstrom KA, Holmes VF, Cozzarelli NR, Meyer BJ. Genes Dev. 2002 Mar 15;16(6):729–42. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  14. Characterization of HCP-6, a C. elegans protein required to prevent chromosome twisting and merotelic attachment. Stear JH, Roth MB. Genes Dev. 2002 Jun 15;16(12):1498–508. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  15. A role for Caenorhabditis elegans importin IMA-2 in germ line and embryonic mitosis. Geles KG, Johnson JJ, Jong S, Adam SA. Mol Biol Cell. 2002 Sep;13(9):3138–47. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  16. Centrosome maturation and mitotic spindle assembly in C. elegans require SPD-5, a protein with multiple coiled-coil domains. Hamill DR, Severson AF, Carter JC, Bowerman B. Dev Cell. 2002 Nov;3(5):673–84. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  17. Chromosome cohesion is regulated by a clock gene paralogue TIM-1. Chan RC, Chan A, Jeon M, Wu TF, Pasqualone D, Rougvie AE, et al. Nature. 2003 Jun 26;423(6943):1002–9. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  18. TAC-1 and ZYG-9 form a complex that promotes microtubule assembly in C. elegans embryos. Bellanger JM, Gönczy P. Curr Biol. 2003 Sep 2;13(17):1488–98. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  19. TAC-1, a regulator of microtubule length in the C. elegans embryo. Le Bot N, Tsai MC, Andrews RK, Ahringer J. Curr Biol. 2003 Sep 2;13(17):1499–505. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  20. Caenorhabditis elegans TAC-1 and ZYG-9 form a complex that is essential for long astral and spindle microtubules. Srayko M, Quintin S, Schwager A, Hyman AA. Curr Biol. 2003 Sep 2;13(17):1506–11. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  21. The mbk-2 kinase is required for inactivation of MEI-1/katanin in the one-cell Caenorhabditis elegans embryo. Quintin S, Mains PE, Zinke A, Hyman AA. EMBO Rep. 2003 Dec;4(12):1175–81. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  22. The C. elegans hook protein, ZYG-12, mediates the essential attachment between the centrosome and nucleus. Malone CJ, Misner L, Le Bot N, Tsai MC, Campbell JM, Ahringer J, et al. Cell. 2003 Dec 26;115(7):825–36. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  23. An evolutionarily conserved gene required for proper microtubule architecture in Caenorhabditis elegans. Ogawa S, Matsubayashi Y, Nishida E. Genes Cells. 2004 Feb;9(2):83–93. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  24. The Caenorhabditis elegans centrosomal protein SPD-2 is required for both pericentriolar material recruitment and centriole duplication. Pelletier L, Ozlü N, Hannak E, Cowan C, Habermann B, Ruer M, et al. Curr Biol. 2004 May 25;14(10):863–73. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  25. lis-1 is required for dynein-dependent cell division processes in C. elegans embryos. Cockell MM, Baumer K, Gönczy P. J Cell Sci. 2004 Sep 1;117(Pt 19):4571–82. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  26. The Caenorhabditis elegans kinetochore reorganizes at prometaphase and in response to checkpoint stimuli. Stear JH, Roth MB. Mol Biol Cell. 2004 Nov;15(11):5187–96. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  27. Condensin restructures chromosomes in preparation for meiotic divisions. Chan RC, Severson AF, Meyer BJ. J Cell Biol. 2004 Nov 22;167(4):613–25. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  28. Centriole assembly requires both centriolar and pericentriolar material proteins. Dammermann A, Müller-Reichert T, Pelletier L, Habermann B, Desai A, Oegema K. Dev Cell. 2004 Dec;7(6):815–29. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  29. Functional analysis of cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain in Caenorhabditis elegans with fast-acting temperature-sensitive mutations. Schmidt DJ, Rose DJ, Saxton WM, Strome S. Mol Biol Cell. 2005 Mar;16(3):1200–12. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  30. SAS-6 defines a protein family required for centrosome duplication in C. elegans and in human cells. Leidel S, Delattre M, Cerutti L, Baumer K, Gönczy P. Nat Cell Biol. 2005 Feb;7(2):115–25. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  31. Full-genome RNAi profiling of early embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Sönnichsen B, Koski LB, Walsh A, Marschall P, Neumann B, Brehm M, et al. Nature. 2005 Mar 24;434(7032):462–9. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  32. Computer simulations and image processing reveal length-dependent pulling force as the primary mechanism for C. elegans male pronuclear migration. Kimura A, Onami S. Dev Cell. 2005 May;8(5):765–75. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  33. An essential function of the C. elegans ortholog of TPX2 is to localize activated aurora A kinase to mitotic spindles. Ozlü N, Srayko M, Kinoshita K, Habermann B, O’toole ET, Müller-Reichert T, et al. Dev Cell. 2005 Aug;9(2):237–48. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  34. Two phases of astral microtubule activity during cytokinesis in C. elegans embryos. Motegi F, Velarde NV, Piano F, Sugimoto A. Dev Cell. 2006 Apr;10(4):509–20. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  35. Sequential protein recruitment in C. elegans centriole formation. Delattre M, Canard C, Gönczy P. Curr Biol. 2006 Sep 19;16(18):1844–9. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  36. Centriole assembly in Caenorhabditis elegans. Pelletier L, O’Toole E, Schwager A, Hyman AA, Müller-Reichert T. Nature. 2006 Nov 30;444(7119):619–23. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  37. The C. elegans RSA complex localizes protein phosphatase 2A to centrosomes and regulates mitotic spindle assembly. Schlaitz AL, Srayko M, Dammermann A, Quintin S, Wielsch N, MacLeod I, et al. Cell. 2007 Jan 12;128(1):115–27. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  38. Functional genomics identifies a Myb domain-containing protein family required for assembly of CENP-A chromatin. Maddox PS, Hyndman F, Monen J, Oegema K, Desai A. J Cell Biol. 2007 Mar 12;176(6):757–63. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  39. Suppressors of zyg-1 define regulators of centrosome duplication and nuclear association in Caenorhabditis elegans. Kemp CA, Song MH, Addepalli MK, Hunter G, O’Connell K. Genetics. 2007 May;176(1):95–113. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia
  40. Cell division. Oegema K, Hyman AA. WormBook. 2006 Jan 19;1–40. PubMed Europe PMC Scholia