Mitotic progression and dual spindle formation caused by spindle association of de novo-formed microtubule-organizing centers in parthenogenetic embryos of Drosophila ananassae

Facultative parthenogenesis occurs in many animal species that typically undergo sexual reproduction. In Drosophila, such development from unfertilized eggs involves diploidization after completion of meiosis, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. Here we used a laboratory stock of Drosophila ananassae that has been maintained parthenogenetically to cytologically examine the initial events of parthenogenesis. Specifically, we determined whether the requirements for centrosomes and diploidization that are essential for developmental success can be overcome. As a primal deviation from sexually reproducing (i.e. sexual) strains of the same species, free asters emerged from the de novo formation of centrosome-like structures in the cytosol of unfertilized eggs. Those microtubule-organizing centers had distinct roles in the earliest cycles of parthenogenetic embryos with respect to mitotic progression and arrangement of mitotic spindles. In the first cycle, an anastral bipolar spindle self-assembled around a haploid set of replicated chromosomes. Participation of at least one microtubule-organizing center in the spindle was necessary for mitotic progression into anaphase. In particular, the first mitosis involving a monastral bipolar spindle resulted in haploid daughter nuclei, one of which was associated with a microtubule-organizing center whereas the other was not. Remarkably, in the following cycle, biastral and anastral bipolar spindles formed that were frequently arranged in tandem by sharing an aster with bidirectional connections at their central poles. We propose that, for diploidization of haploid nuclei, unfertilized parthenogenetic embryos utilize dual spindles during the second mitosis, as occurs for the first mitosis in normal fertilized eggs.

Automated summary

Facultative parthenogenesis, or the development of unfertilized eggs, occurs in many sexually reproducing animal species. However, the exact mechanism of this process, specifically the diploidization after meiosis, is still unclear. This study examined the initial events of parthenogenesis in Drosophila ananassae and found that centrosome-like structures called asters formed in the cytosol of unfertilized eggs. These microtubule-organizing centers played important roles in the earliest stages of parthenogenetic embryo development. The study also proposed that unfertilized parthenogenetic embryos utilize dual spindles during the second mitosis to achieve diploidization of haploid nuclei.