8-P005 Rhabdomere twisting of Drosophila photoreceptors is influenced by MAP kinases ERK and JNK

manipulating spindle by laser, we showed that the spindle asymmetry is essential for asymmetric nuclear localization of b-catenin. Because a kinesin inhibitor disrupted asymmetry of b-catenin localization, we propose that kinesin dependent transport of b-catenin along astral microtubules causes the enhancement of nuclear b-catenin export. This process occurs more efficiently in the anterior side that has more astral microtubules, resulting in asymmetric nuclear localization of b-catenin. Our results show a novel mechanism of b-catenin nuclear localization regulated by spindle. We will discuss how cortical proteins regulate the asymmetric spindle structure.