scholarly journals Lis1 is an initiation factor for dynein-driven organelle transport

2012 ◽  
Vol 197 (7) ◽  
pp. 971-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin J. Egan ◽  
Kaeling Tan ◽  
Samara L. Reck-Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Filamentous Fungus ◽  
Molecular Motor ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dynein ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Organelle Transport ◽  
General Role ◽  
Reduced Frequency

The molecular motor cytoplasmic dynein is responsible for most minus-end–directed, microtubule-based transport in eukaryotic cells. It is especially important in neurons, where defects in microtubule-based motility have been linked to neurological diseases. For example, lissencephaly is caused by mutations in the dynein-associated protein Lis1. In this paper, using the long, highly polarized hyphae of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, we show that three morphologically and functionally distinct dynein cargos showed transport defects in the genetic absence of Lis1/nudF, raising the possibility that Lis1 is ubiquitously used for dynein-based transport. Surprisingly, both dynein and its cargo moved at normal speeds in the absence of Lis1 but with reduced frequency. Moreover, Lis1, unlike dynein and dynactin, was absent from moving dynein cargos, further suggesting that Lis1 is not required for dynein-based cargo motility once it has commenced. Based on these observations, we propose that Lis1 has a general role in initiating dynein-driven motility.

scholarly journals HookA is a novel dynein–early endosome linker critical for cargo movement in vivo

2014 ◽  
Vol 204 (6) ◽  
pp. 1009-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Rongde Qiu ◽  
Herbert N. Arst ◽  
Miguel A. Peñalva ◽  
Xin Xiang
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Filamentous Fungus ◽  
Coiled Coil ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dynein ◽  
Early Endosome ◽  
Genetic Screen ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Terminal Part ◽  
Microtubule Binding Domain

Cytoplasmic dynein transports membranous cargoes along microtubules, but the mechanism of dynein–cargo interaction is unclear. From a genetic screen, we identified a homologue of human Hook proteins, HookA, as a factor required for dynein-mediated early endosome movement in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. HookA contains a putative N-terminal microtubule-binding domain followed by coiled-coil domains and a C-terminal cargo-binding domain, an organization reminiscent of cytoplasmic linker proteins. HookA–early endosome interaction occurs independently of dynein–early endosome interaction and requires the C-terminal domain. Importantly, HookA interacts with dynein and dynactin independently of HookA–early endosome interaction but dependent on the N-terminal part of HookA. Both dynein and the p25 subunit of dynactin are required for the interaction between HookA and dynein–dynactin, and loss of HookA significantly weakens dynein–early endosome interaction, causing a virtually complete absence of early endosome movement. Thus, HookA is a novel linker important for dynein–early endosome interaction in vivo.

scholarly journals Accumulation of Cytoplasmic Dynein and Dynactin at Microtubule Plus Ends in Aspergillus nidulans Is Kinesin Dependent

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1479-1488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Shihe Li ◽  
Reinhard Fischer ◽  
Xin Xiang
Keyword(s):  
Green Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Filamentous Fungus ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dynein ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Conventional Kinesin ◽  
Green Fluorescent

The mechanism(s) by which microtubule plus-end tracking proteins are targeted is unknown. In the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, both cytoplasmic dynein and NUDF, the homolog of the LIS1 protein, localize to microtubule plus ends as comet-like structures. Herein, we show that NUDM, the p150 subunit of dynactin, also forms dynamic comet-like structures at microtubule plus ends. By examining proteins tagged with green fluorescent protein in different loss-of-function mutants, we demonstrate that dynactin and cytoplasmic dynein require each other for microtubule plus-end accumulation, and the presence of cytoplasmic dynein is also important for NUDF's plus-end accumulation. Interestingly, deletion of NUDF increases the overall accumulation of dynein and dynactin at plus ends, suggesting that NUDF may facilitate minus-end–directed dynein movement. Finally, we demonstrate that a conventional kinesin, KINA, is required for the microtubule plus-end accumulation of cytoplasmic dynein and dynactin, but not of NUDF.

Cytoplasmic dynein

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1169-1178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria J. Allan
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Motor Proteins ◽  
Molecular Motor ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dynein ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Single Cell Level ◽  
Cell Level ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Function

The organization and function of eukaryotic cells rely on the action of many different molecular motor proteins. Cytoplasmic dynein drives the movement of a wide range of cargoes towards the minus ends of microtubules, and these events are needed, not just at the single-cell level, but are vital for correct development. In the present paper, I review recent progress on understanding dynein's mechanochemistry, how it is regulated and how it binds to such a plethora of cargoes. The importance of a number of accessory factors in these processes is discussed.

Microtubule Dynamics and Organelle Transport in Reticulomyxa

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-195
Author(s):  
Yih-Tai Chen ◽  
Ursula Euteneuer ◽  
Ken B. Johnson ◽  
Michael P. Koonce ◽  
Manfred Schliwa
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Light Microscopy ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dynein ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Microtubule Dynamics ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Organelle Transport ◽  
Biochemical Characteristics ◽  
Dependent Transport

The application of video techniques to light microscopy and the development of motility assays in reactivated or reconstituted model systems rapidly advanced our understanding of the mechanism of organelle transport and microtubule dynamics in living cells. Two microtubule-based motors have been identified that are good candidates for motors that drive organelle transport: kinesin, a plus end-directed motor, and cytoplasmic dynein, which is minus end-directed. However, the evidence that they do in fact function as organelle motors is still indirect.We are studying microtubule-dependent transport and dynamics in the giant amoeba, Reticulomyxa. This cell extends filamentous strands backed by an extensive array of microtubules along which organelles move bidirectionally at up to 20 μm/sec (Fig. 1). Following removal of the plasma membrane with a mild detergent, organelle transport can be reactivated by the addition of ATP (1). The physiological, pharmacological and biochemical characteristics show the motor to be a cytoplasmic form of dynein (2).

Microtubule motors and other maps

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Richard B. Vallee
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dynein ◽  
Organelle Transport ◽  
Structural Components ◽  
Microtubule Associated Proteins ◽  
Microtubule Motors ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Intracellular Motility

Microtubules are involved in a number of forms of intracellular motility, including mitosis and bidirectional organelle transport. Purified microtubules from brain and other sources contain tubulin and a diversity of microtubule associated proteins (MAPs). Some of the high molecular weight MAPs - MAP 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B - are long, fibrous molecules that serve as structural components of the cytamatrix. Three MAPs have recently been identified that show microtubule activated ATPase activity and produce force in association with microtubules. These proteins - kinesin, cytoplasmic dynein, and dynamin - are referred to as cytoplasmic motors. The latter two will be the subject of this talk.Cytoplasmic dynein was first identified as one of the high molecular weight brain MAPs, MAP 1C. It was determined to be structurally equivalent to ciliary and flagellar dynein, and to produce force toward the minus ends of microtubules, opposite to kinesin.

scholarly journals Interaction of the Aspergillus nidulans Microtubule-Organizing Center (MTOC) Component ApsB with Gamma-Tubulin and Evidence for a Role of a Subclass of Peroxisomes in the Formation of Septal MTOCs

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 795-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Zekert ◽  
Daniel Veith ◽  
Reinhard Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Microtubule Organizing Center ◽  
Body Protein ◽  
Content Type ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Peroxisomal Targeting ◽  
Gamma Tubulin

ABSTRACT Peroxisomes are a diverse class of organelles involved in different physiological processes in eukaryotic cells. Although proteins imported into peroxisomes carry a peroxisomal targeting sequence at the C terminus (PTS1) or an alternative one close to the N terminus (PTS2), the protein content of peroxisomes varies drastically. Here we suggest a new class of peroxisomes involved in microtubule (MT) formation. Eukaryotic cells assemble MTs from distinct points in the cell. In the fungus Aspergillus nidulans, septum-associated microtubule-organizing centers (sMTOCs) are very active in addition to the spindle pole bodies (SPBs). Previously, we identified a novel MTOC-associated protein, ApsB (Schizosaccharomyces pombe mto1), whose absence affected MT formation from sMTOCs more than from SPBs, suggesting that the two protein complexes are organized differently. We show here that sMTOCs share at least two further components, gamma-tubulin and GcpC (S. pombe Alp6) with SPBs and found that ApsB interacts with gamma-tubulin. In addition, we discovered that ApsB interacts with the Woronin body protein HexA and is targeted to a subclass of peroxisomes via a PTS2 peroxisomal targeting sequence. The PTS2 motif was necessary for function but could be replaced with a PTS1 motif at the C terminus of ApsB. These results suggest a novel function for a subclass of peroxisomes in cytoskeletal organization.

A Screen for Dynein Synthetic Lethals in Aspergillus nidulans Identifies Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Genes and Other Genes Involved in Mitosis

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-116
Author(s):  
Vladimir P Efimov ◽  
N Ronald Morris
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ◽  
Genetic Interaction ◽  
Synthetic Lethality ◽  
Spindle Assembly ◽  
Nuclear Migration ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dynein ◽  
Vesicle Transport ◽  
Synthetic Lethal ◽  
Checkpoint Genes

Abstract Cytoplasmic dynein is a ubiquitously expressed microtubule motor involved in vesicle transport, mitosis, nuclear migration, and spindle orientation. In the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, 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 hypersensitivity to the microtubule-destabilizing drug benomyl. 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 BUB1 and BUB3 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document