Tags Attached to the Centrosomal Protein SPD-5 Can Disrupt Centrosome Flattening During Anaphase of the 1-cell C. elegans Embryo.

Abstract

Centrosomes promote mitotic spindle assembly by nucleating microtubules from the peri-centriolar material (PCM). At mitotic exit, centrosomes disassemble and the PCM disperses. In the 1-cell C. elegans embryo, polarity cues result in distinct disassembly patterns of the anterior vs. posterior centrosome. Here, we show that commonly used alleles of GFP-tagged SPD-5 , a major PCM protein, can interfere with posterior centrosome flattening during disassembly. We also report the development of endogenous super-folder GFP:: SPD-5 (sfGFP:: SPD-5 ) that exhibits normal centrosome flattening. This highlights the ability of tags to interfere with cellular structures and processes, and provides a new tool to symmetrize centrosome disassembly.