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XB-ART-47478
Dev Cell 2013 Oct 14;271:47-59. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2013.08.002.
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Chromatin-bound Xenopus Dppa2 shapes the nucleus by locally inhibiting microtubule assembly.

Xue JZ , Woo EM , Postow L , Chait BT , Funabiki H .


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Nuclear shape and size vary between species, during development, and in many tissue pathologies, but the causes and effects of these differences remain poorly understood. During fertilization, sperm nuclei undergo a dramatic conversion from a heavily compacted form into decondensed, spherical pronuclei, accompanied by rapid nucleation of microtubules from centrosomes. Here we report that the assembly of the spherical nucleus depends on a critical balance of microtubule dynamics, which is regulated by the chromatin-binding protein Developmental pluripotency-associated 2 (Dppa2). Whereas microtubules normally promote sperm pronuclear expansion, in Dppa2-depleted Xenopus egg extracts excess microtubules cause pronuclear assembly defects, leading to abnormal morphology and disorganized DNA replication. Dppa2 inhibits microtubule polymerization in vitro, and Dppa2 activity is needed at a precise time and location during nascent pronuclear formation. This demonstrates a strict spatiotemporal requirement for local suppression of microtubules during nuclear formation, fulfilled by chromatin-bound microtubule regulators.

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Species referenced: Xenopus
Genes referenced: dppa2

References [+] :
Athale, Regulation of microtubule dynamics by reaction cascades around chromosomes. 2008, Pubmed, Xenbase