RGS14 is a mitotic spindle protein essential from the first division of the mammalian zygote.

Authors

Luke Martin-McCaffrey
Francis S Willard
Antonio J Oliveira-dos-Santos
David R C Natale
Bryan E Snow
Randall J Kimple
Agnieszka Pajak
Andrew J Watson
Lina Dagnino
Josef M Penninger
David P Siderovski
Sudhir J A D'Souza

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2004

Journal

Developmental cell

Volume

7

Issue

5

First Page

763

Last Page

769

Abstract

Heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits, RGS proteins, and GoLoco motif proteins have been recently implicated in the control of mitotic spindle dynamics in C. elegans and D. melanogaster. Here we show that "regulator of G protein signaling-14" (RGS14) is expressed by the mouse embryonic genome immediately prior to the first mitosis, where it colocalizes with the anastral mitotic apparatus of the mouse zygote. Loss of Rgs14 expression in the mouse zygote results in cytofragmentation and failure to progress to the 2-cell stage. RGS14 is found in all tissues and segregates to the nucleus in interphase and to the mitotic spindle and centrioles during mitosis. Alteration of RGS14 levels in exponentially proliferating cells leads to cell growth arrest. Our results indicate that RGS14 is one of the earliest essential product of the mammalian embryonic genome yet described and has a general role in mitosis.