Numerous evidence demonstrates that dynein is crucial for organization of microtubules (MTs) into radial arrays, but its exact function in this process is unclear. Here, we studied the role of cytoplasmic dynein in MT radial array formation in the absence of the centrosome. We found that dynein is a potent MT nucleator in vitro and that stimulation of dynein activity in cytoplasmic fragments of...

Many different cell types possess microtubule patterns which appear to be polarized and oriented, in part, by cytoplasmic factors not directly associated with a centrosome. Recently, we demonstrated that cytoplasmic extensions ("arms") of teleost melanophores will reorganize their microtubule population outward from their centers after surgical isolation (McNiven, M. A., M. Wang, and K. R. Port...

Groups of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos receive radiations different frequencies and intensities by means new prototype devices. They are exposed to static (B0, 0 Hz), extremely low-frequency (ELF, 0.2 (LF, 270 kHz), very-high-frequency (VHF, 100 MHz), ultra-high-frequency (UHF, 900 MHz) field irradiations. The applied magnetic 40 mT at Hz, 470 μT kHz, 240 nT MHz, MHz. Such combinations meant...

The developmental bases for species differences in adult phenotypes remain largely unknown. An emerging system for studying such variation is the adult pigment pattern expressed by Danio fishes. These patterns result from several classes of pigment cells including black melanophores and yellow xanthophores, which differentiate during metamorphosis from latent stem cells of presumptive neural cr...