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First published online October 12, 2006
doi: 10.1242/10.1242/jcs.03197

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A role for non-muscle myosin II function in furrow maturation in the early zebrafish embryo

¹ Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin – Madison, WI 53706, USA
² Department of Biology, Marian College of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac, WI 54935, USA

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: fjpelegri{at}wisc.edu)

Accepted 31 July 2006

Cytokinesis in early zebrafish embryos involves coordinated changes in the f-actin- and microtubule-based cytoskeleton, and the recruitment of adhesion junction components to the furrow. We show that exposure to inhibitors of non-muscle myosin II function does not affect furrow ingression during the early cleavage cycles but interferes with the recruitment of pericleavage f-actin and cortical ß-catenin aggregates to the furrow, as well as the remodeling of the furrow microtubule array. This remodeling is in turn required for the distal aggregation of the zebrafish germ plasm. Embryos with reduced myosin activity also exhibit at late stages of cytokinesis a stabilized contractile ring apparatus that appears as a ladder-like pattern of short f-actin cables, supporting a role for myosin function in the disassembly of the contractile ring after furrow formation. Our studies support a role for myosin function in furrow maturation that is independent of furrow ingression and which is essential for the recruitment of furrow components and the remodeling of the cytoskeleton during cytokinesis.

Key words: Non-muscle myosin, Cytokinesis, Furrow formation, Cell adhesion, Germ plasm, Zebrafish

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