Cytoplasmic dynein is a ubiquitously expressed microtubule motor involved in vesicle transport, mitosis, nuclear migration, and spindle orientation. In the filamentous fungus @entity14940 , inactivation of cytoplasmic dynein, although not lethal, severely impairs nuclear migration. The role of dynein in mitosis and vesicle transport in this organism is unclear. To investigate the complete range of dynein function in A. nidulans, we searched for synthetic lethal mutations that significantly reduced growth in the absence of dynein but had little effect on their own. We isolated 19 sld (synthetic lethality without dynein) mutations in nine different genes. Mutations in two genes exacerbate the nuclear migration defect seen in the absence of dynein. Mutations in six other genes, including sldA and sldB, show a strong synthetic lethal interaction with a mutation in the mitotic kinesin bimC and, thus, are likely to play a role in mitosis. Mutations in sldA and sldB also confer @entity56 to the microtubule-destabilizing drug @entity13642 . sldA and sldB were cloned by complementation of their mutant phenotypes using an A. nidulans autonomously replicating vector. Sequencing revealed homology to the spindle assembly checkpoint genes @entity47766 and @entity47765 from @entity375 . Genetic interaction between dynein and spindle assembly checkpoint genes, as well as other mitotic genes, indicates that A. nidulans dynein plays a role in mitosis. We suggest a model for dynein motor action in A. nidulans that can explain dynein involvement in both mitosis and nuclear distribution.

A screen for dynein synthetic lethals in XXXX identifies spindle assembly checkpoint genes and other genes involved in mitosis.

@entity47765 :: ('854191(Tax:4932)', 'Gene') :: ['BUB3'] @entity14940 :: ('162425', 'Species') :: ['Aspergillus nidulans'] @entity56 :: ('MESH:D004342', 'Disease') :: ['hypersensitivity'] @entity47766 :: ('853100(Tax:4932)', 'Gene') :: ['BUB1'] @entity13642 :: ('MESH:D001542', 'Chemical') :: ['benomyl'] @entity375 :: ('4932', 'Species') :: ['Saccharomyces cerevisiae']
@entity14940 :: (162425,Species) :: ['Aspergillus nidulans']
