Asymmetric cell division 2026-11-05
Asymmetric cell division produces daughter cells with different developmental fates. Unequal size can accompany it, but the defining distinction is the daughters' outcomes. An asymmetry may arise from unequal inheritance of intracellular components or from different access to a stem-cell niche after division. For example, one daughter of a germline stem cell can retain its niche contact while the other begins cell differentiation. This couples cell polarity, spindle apparatus orientation and local signalling. [ref]
Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th edition by Bruce Alberts and others. Chapter 22, Stem Cells: asymmetric division and self-renewal
In the male Drosophila germline, a localized Bazooka patch provides a centrosome docking platform. Reducing Bazooka disrupted centrosome orientation; ectopic patches could associate with misplaced centrosomes. Measurements of both interphase centrosomes and mitotic spindle apparatus helped separate orientation defects from failure of the checkpoint that normally delays division. [ref]
The polarity protein Baz forms a platform for the centrosome orientation during asymmetric stem cell division in the Drosophila male germline by Mayu Inaba and others. 2015, Figure 3 and results: Baz knockdown, overexpression and orientation checkpoint
Hebao Yuan Created 2026-10-20 Updated 2026-11-05
Researcher in asymmetric cell division. Yuan and collaborators studied the dependence of the centrosome orientation checkpoint on cyclin A localization downstream of Par-1, linking cell polarity with the timing of division.[ref]
Mayu Inaba Created 2026-10-20 Updated 2026-11-05
Researcher studying asymmetric cell division. Inaba and collaborators investigated how the polarity protein Baz positions the centrosome in the male Drosophila germline, connecting intracellular organization with the orientation of a stem-cell division.[ref]