High impact information on Myt1

• Drosophila Myt1 is a Cdk1 inhibitory kinase that regulates multiple aspects of cell cycle behavior during gametogenesis [1].
• To address this issue, we have undertaken a functional analysis of Drosophila Myt1 that has revealed novel developmental roles for this conserved cell cycle regulator during gametogenesis [1].
• Despite the previously demonstrated role for Myt1 regulation of Cdk1 during meiosis, relatively little is known of how Myt1 functions at other developmental stages [1].
• Notably, more proliferating cells were observed in myt1 mutant testes and ovaries than controls [1].
• Moreover, mitotic index measurements suggested that germline stem cells proliferate more rapidly, in myt1 mutant females [1].

Biological context of Myt1

• The phenotype can be modified by altering the gene dosage of known regulators of the G2/M transition, suggesting that we could use these transgenic strains in modifier screens to identify potential regulators of Wee1 and Myt1 [2].
• We also observed interactions with p53, which suggest that Wee1 and Myt1 activity can block apoptosis [2].
• Finally, loss of dMyt1 alone resulted in a significant reduction of phosphorylation of cdc2 on the threonine-14 (Thr-14) residue as expected [3].
• Most strikingly, in the absence of dMyt1, Golgi fragmentation during mitosis was incomplete [3].
• In addition, loss of dMyt1 alone or in combination with Drosophila Wee1 (dWee1) resulted in a reduction of cells in G2/M phase and an increase in G1 phase cells [3].

Other interactions of Myt1

• We have isolated the genes encoding Drosophila Wee1 and Myt1 and are using genetic approaches to dissect their functions during normal development [2].

References