Analysis for the two distinct pathways to form mitotic spindles in C. elegans embryos

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The evolutionarily conservedγ-tubulin is the main microtubule nucleator. C. elegans embryos have another,γ-tubulin-independent, microtubule assembly mechanism that requires Aurora A kinase(AIR-1). This study showed that AIR-1 stabilizes the spindle microtubules in a kinase-independent manner in addition to its kinase-dependent role at centrosomes. The kinase-independent AIR-1 was crucial in the assembly of chromatin-stimulated microtubules whileγ-tubulin complex was dispensable for the process. The results obtained suggested that the roles of aγ-tubulin complex, a kinase-dependent AIR-1, and a kinase-independent AIR-1 necessary to be coordinated to assemble functional mitotic spindles.