Welcome in the research database

Regulation of asymmetric cell division

Pictures of a one-cell and a two-cell embryo stained with PAR-6, tubulin and DAPI

Asymmetric cell division is a fundamental process essential for the generation of cell diversity during development and for the self-renewal of stem cells. Establishment of an axis of polarity and proper positioning of the mitotic spindle are essential for asymmetric cell division. While we know some of the players involved in these processes, the regulation and interconnection of the signaling cascades underlying these events remain elusive. Studies in model systems have made many key contributions to our understanding of asymmetric cell division in all systems, including animals.
In my lab we use the embryo of C. elegans as a model system to study asymmetric cell division. The C. elegans embryo is an ideal model system to study this process, particularly because it offers the possibility to combine differential interference contrast and fluorescence microscopy of live embryos with very well developed forward and reverse genetics. In addition, functional genomic screens by RNA interference allow for the rapid identification of novel genes involved in processes of interest.
The first division of the embryo is asymmetric, resulting in two cells that are different in size and fate. This asymmetry depends on the function of the conserved PAR proteins, which control localization of cell fate determinants and positioning of the mitotic spindle. Downstream of PAR proteins, heterotrimeric G proteins play a key role in positioning and orienting the mitotic spindle. PAR and heterotrimeric G proteins and their role in asymmetric cell division are highly conserved.
The goal of our research is to identify new factors required for polarity and spindle positioning and to characterize their role in the signaling pathways that underlie these processes using a combination of genetics, microscopy, biochemistry and functional genomics.
Since the processes underlying asymmetric cell division are conserved, our studies will be applicable to animal cells and thereby improve our understanding of this process not only in C. elegans but also in other systems, in particular in the control of the self -renewal of normal and cancer stem cells.

Group's publications

LARP-1 promotes oogenesis by repressing fem-3 in the C. elegans germline.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
2010 vol. 123 pp. 2717-2724
ZANIN E, PACQUELET A, SCHECKEL C, CIOSK R, GOTTA MONICA

A cell biologist connects her research to bacterial brain invasion.
NATURE
2010 vol. 463(7278) pp. 139-139
GOTTA MONICA

MAP Kinase Signaling Antagonizes PAR-1 Function During Polarization of the Early Caenorhabditis elegans Embryo
GENETICS
2009 vol. 183 pp. 965-977
SPILKER AC, RABILOTTA A, ZBINDEN C, LABBE JC, GOTTA MONICA

PAR-6 levels are regulated by NOS-3 in a CUL-2 dependent manner in Caenorhabditiselegans.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
2008 vol. 319(2) pp. 267-272
PACQUELET A, ZANIN E, ASHIONO C, GOTTA MONICA

A casein kinase 1 and PAR proteins regulate asymmetry of a PIP(2) synthesis enzyme for asymmetric spindle positioning.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
2008 vol. 15(2) pp. 198-208
PANBIANCO C, WEINKOVE D, ZANIN E, JONES D, DIVECHA N, GOTTA MONICA, AHRINGER J

Heterotrimeric G protein signaling functions with dynein to promote spindle positioning in C. elegans
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
2007 vol. 179 pp. 15-22
COUWENBERGS C, LABBE JC, GOULDING M, MARTY T, BOWERMAN B, GOTTA M

Cdc48/p97 promotes reformation of the nucleus by extracting the kinase Aurora B from chromatin
NATURE
2007 vol. 450 pp. 1258-1262
RAMADAN K, BRUDERER R, SPIGA FM, POPP O, BAUR T, GOTTA M, MEYER HH

URI-1 is required for DNA stability in C. elegans
DEVELOPMENT (CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND).
2006 vol. 133(4) pp. 621-629
PARUSEL C., KRITIKOU E.A., HENGARTNER M.O., KREK W., GOTTA MONICA

A genomewide screen for suppressors of par-2 uncovers potential regulators of PAR protein-dependent cell polarity in Caenorhabditis elegans
GENETICS
2006 vol. 174(1) pp. 285-295
LABBE JEAN-CLAUDE, PACQUELET ANNE, MARTY THOMAS, GOTTA MONICA

Heterotrimeric G proteins and regulation of size asymmetry during cell division
CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY
2005 vol. 17(6) pp. 658-663
BELLAICHE Y., GOTTA MONICA

At the heart of cell polarity and the cytoskeleton
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
2005 vol. 8(5) pp. 629-633
GOTTA MONICA

Control of embryonic spindle positioning and Galpha activity by C. elegans RIC-8
CURRENT BIOLOGY
2004 vol. 14(20) pp. 1871-1876
COUWENBERGS C., SPILKER A.C., GOTTA MONICA

Research's domains




DATABASE-RESEARCH	GROUP OF BASIC RESEARCH

Pr. Monica GOTTA	Head of group CV	Research subject	Members of the group


	Links about the group Prof. Monica GOTTA CMU / PHYME Rue Michel Servet 1211 Genève 4 Suisse Monica.Gotta@unige.ch Tel.: 022 379 54 95 Fax: 022 379 55 02 Comments Pages updated the 10.02.2012		Reseach's subject \| Group's publications \| Research's domains Regulation of asymmetric cell division Pictures of a one-cell and a two-cell embryo stained with PAR-6, tubulin and DAPI Asymmetric cell division is a fundamental process essential for the generation of cell diversity during development and for the self-renewal of stem cells. Establishment of an axis of polarity and proper positioning of the mitotic spindle are essential for asymmetric cell division. While we know some of the players involved in these processes, the regulation and interconnection of the signaling cascades underlying these events remain elusive. Studies in model systems have made many key contributions to our understanding of asymmetric cell division in all systems, including animals. In my lab we use the embryo of C. elegans as a model system to study asymmetric cell division. The C. elegans embryo is an ideal model system to study this process, particularly because it offers the possibility to combine differential interference contrast and fluorescence microscopy of live embryos with very well developed forward and reverse genetics. In addition, functional genomic screens by RNA interference allow for the rapid identification of novel genes involved in processes of interest. The first division of the embryo is asymmetric, resulting in two cells that are different in size and fate. This asymmetry depends on the function of the conserved PAR proteins, which control localization of cell fate determinants and positioning of the mitotic spindle. Downstream of PAR proteins, heterotrimeric G proteins play a key role in positioning and orienting the mitotic spindle. PAR and heterotrimeric G proteins and their role in asymmetric cell division are highly conserved. The goal of our research is to identify new factors required for polarity and spindle positioning and to characterize their role in the signaling pathways that underlie these processes using a combination of genetics, microscopy, biochemistry and functional genomics. Since the processes underlying asymmetric cell division are conserved, our studies will be applicable to animal cells and thereby improve our understanding of this process not only in C. elegans but also in other systems, in particular in the control of the self -renewal of normal and cancer stem cells. Group's publications LARP-1 promotes oogenesis by repressing fem-3 in the C. elegans germline. JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE 2010 vol. 123 pp. 2717-2724 ZANIN E, PACQUELET A, SCHECKEL C, CIOSK R, GOTTA MONICA A cell biologist connects her research to bacterial brain invasion. NATURE 2010 vol. 463(7278) pp. 139-139 GOTTA MONICA MAP Kinase Signaling Antagonizes PAR-1 Function During Polarization of the Early Caenorhabditis elegans Embryo GENETICS 2009 vol. 183 pp. 965-977 SPILKER AC, RABILOTTA A, ZBINDEN C, LABBE JC, GOTTA MONICA PAR-6 levels are regulated by NOS-3 in a CUL-2 dependent manner in Caenorhabditiselegans. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2008 vol. 319(2) pp. 267-272 PACQUELET A, ZANIN E, ASHIONO C, GOTTA MONICA A casein kinase 1 and PAR proteins regulate asymmetry of a PIP(2) synthesis enzyme for asymmetric spindle positioning. DEVELOPMENTAL CELL 2008 vol. 15(2) pp. 198-208 PANBIANCO C, WEINKOVE D, ZANIN E, JONES D, DIVECHA N, GOTTA MONICA, AHRINGER J Heterotrimeric G protein signaling functions with dynein to promote spindle positioning in C. elegans JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY 2007 vol. 179 pp. 15-22 COUWENBERGS C, LABBE JC, GOULDING M, MARTY T, BOWERMAN B, GOTTA M Cdc48/p97 promotes reformation of the nucleus by extracting the kinase Aurora B from chromatin NATURE 2007 vol. 450 pp. 1258-1262 RAMADAN K, BRUDERER R, SPIGA FM, POPP O, BAUR T, GOTTA M, MEYER HH URI-1 is required for DNA stability in C. elegans DEVELOPMENT (CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND). 2006 vol. 133(4) pp. 621-629 PARUSEL C., KRITIKOU E.A., HENGARTNER M.O., KREK W., GOTTA MONICA A genomewide screen for suppressors of par-2 uncovers potential regulators of PAR protein-dependent cell polarity in Caenorhabditis elegans GENETICS 2006 vol. 174(1) pp. 285-295 LABBE JEAN-CLAUDE, PACQUELET ANNE, MARTY THOMAS, GOTTA MONICA Heterotrimeric G proteins and regulation of size asymmetry during cell division CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY 2005 vol. 17(6) pp. 658-663 BELLAICHE Y., GOTTA MONICA At the heart of cell polarity and the cytoskeleton DEVELOPMENTAL CELL 2005 vol. 8(5) pp. 629-633 GOTTA MONICA Control of embryonic spindle positioning and Galpha activity by C. elegans RIC-8 CURRENT BIOLOGY 2004 vol. 14(20) pp. 1871-1876 COUWENBERGS C., SPILKER A.C., GOTTA MONICA Research's domains