G protein regulator 1 (GPR-1) localizes to cortical sites of artificial mechanical indentation in Caenorhabditis elegans zygotes.

Cytokinesis and spindle positioning require the cortical force regulator G Protein Regulator 1/2 (GPR-1/2). GPR-1/2 is thought to localize to sites of cortical force generation. Does GPR-1/2 also act as a sensor for mechanical stimulation? I mechanically stimulated the cortex by indenting it with a glass needle and observed the cortical localization of a YFP::GPR-1 transgene. I found that cortical YFP::GPR-1 accumulated at the site of mechanical indentation. This phenomenon occurred on most of the cortical areas except the site of prospective cytokinesis furrow formation. This result suggests that GPR-1/2 can sense mechanical properties of the cortex, which may be important for GPR-1/2 function regulating spindle positioning and cytokinesis.