scholarly journals Local RhoA activation induces cytokinetic furrows independent of spindle position and cell cycle stage

2016 ◽  
Vol 213 (6) ◽  
pp. 641-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Wagner ◽  
Michael Glotzer
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Adherent Cells ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Rhoa Activity ◽  
Rhoa Activation ◽  
Rapid Induction ◽  
Ring Assembly ◽  
Interphase Cells ◽  
Spindle Position

The GTPase RhoA promotes contractile ring assembly and furrow ingression during cytokinesis. Although many factors that regulate RhoA during cytokinesis have been characterized, the spatiotemporal regulatory logic remains undefined. We have developed an optogenetic probe to gain tight spatial and temporal control of RhoA activity in mammalian cells and demonstrate that cytokinetic furrowing is primarily regulated at the level of RhoA activation. Light-mediated recruitment of a RhoGEF domain to the plasma membrane leads to rapid induction of RhoA activity, leading to assembly of cytokinetic furrows that partially ingress. Furthermore, furrow formation in response to RhoA activation is not temporally or spatially restricted. RhoA activation is sufficient to generate furrows at both the cell equator and cell poles, in both metaphase and anaphase. Remarkably, furrow formation can be initiated in rounded interphase cells, but not adherent cells. These results indicate that RhoA activation is sufficient to induce assembly of functional contractile rings and that cell rounding facilitates furrow formation.

scholarly journals Local RhoA Activation Induces Cytokinetic Furrows Independent of Spindle Position and Cell Cycle Stage

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Wagner ◽  
Michael Glotzer
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Rhoa Activity ◽  
Rhoa Activation ◽  
Ring Assembly ◽  
Interphase Cells ◽  
A Site ◽  
Spindle Position ◽  
Rapid Activation

Cytokinetic cleavage furrows assemble during anaphase at a site that is dictated by the position of the spindle. The GTPase RhoA promotes contractile ring assembly and furrow ingression during cytokinesis. While many factors that regulate RhoA during cytokinesis have been characterized, the spatiotemporal regulatory logic remains undefined. It is not known whether a local zone of RhoA activity is sufficient to induce furrow formation or whether the spindle modulates furrow assembly through other pathways. Similarly, it is not known whether the entire cortex is responsive to RhoA, nor whether contractile ring assembly is cell cycle regulated. Here, we have developed an optogenetic probe to gain tight spatial and temporal control of RhoA activity in mammalian cells and demonstrate that cytokinetic furrowing is primarily regulated at the level of RhoA activation. Light-mediated recruitment of a RhoGEF domain to the plasma membrane leads to rapid activation of RhoA, leading to assembly of cytokinetic furrows that partially ingress. Furthermore, furrow formation in response to RhoA activation is not spatially or temporally restricted. RhoA activation is sufficient to generate furrows at both the cell equator and at cell poles, in both metaphase and anaphase. Remarkably, furrow formation can be initiated in rounded interphase cells, but not adherent cells. These results indicate RhoA activation is sufficient to induce assembly of functional contractile rings and that cell rounding facilitates furrow formation.

scholarly journals Novel Functions of Ect2 in Polar Lamellipodia Formation and Polarity Maintenance during “Contractile Ring-Independent” Cytokinesis in Adherent Cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masamitsu Kanada ◽  
Akira Nagasaki ◽  
Taro Q.P. Uyeda
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Rhoa Activity ◽  
Rhoa Activation ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Ht1080 Cells ◽  
Lamellipodia Formation

Some mammalian cells are able to divide via both the classic contractile ring-dependent method (cytokinesis A) and a contractile ring-independent, adhesion-dependent method (cytokinesis B). Cytokinesis A is triggered by RhoA, which, in HeLa cells, is activated by the guanine nucleotide-exchange factor Ect2 localized at the central spindle and equatorial cortex. Here, we show that in HT1080 cells undergoing cytokinesis A, Ect2 does not localize in the equatorial cortex, though RhoA accumulates there. Moreover, Ect2 depletion resulted in only modest multinucleation of HT1080 cells, enabling us to establish cell lines in which Ect2 was constitutively depleted. Thus, RhoA is activated via an Ect2-independent pathway during cytokinesis A in HT1080 cells. During cytokinesis B, Ect2-depleted cells showed narrower accumulation of RhoA at the equatorial cortex, accompanied by compromised pole-to-equator polarity, formation of ectopic lamellipodia in regions where RhoA normally would be distributed, and delayed formation of polar lamellipodia. Furthermore, C3 exoenzyme inhibited equatorial RhoA activation and polar lamellipodia formation. Conversely, expression of dominant active Ect2 in interphase HT1080 cells enhanced RhoA activity and suppressed lamellipodia formation. These results suggest that equatorial Ect2 locally suppresses lamellipodia formation via RhoA activation, which indirectly contributes to restricting lamellipodia formation to polar regions during cytokinesis B.

scholarly journals The RhoGAP activity of CYK-4/MgcRacGAP functions non-canonically by promoting RhoA activation during cytokinesis

eLife ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donglei Zhang ◽  
Michael Glotzer
Keyword(s):  
Active Form ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Gtp Hydrolysis ◽  
Activating Mutations ◽  
Catalytic Domains ◽  
Rhoa Activation ◽  
Ring Assembly ◽  
Rho Family ◽  
Spatiotemporal Control

Cytokinesis requires activation of the GTPase RhoA. ECT-2, the exchange factor responsible for RhoA activation, is regulated to ensure spatiotemporal control of contractile ring assembly. Centralspindlin, composed of the Rho family GTPase-activating protein (RhoGAP) MgcRacGAP/CYK-4 and the kinesin MKLP1/ZEN-4, is known to activate ECT-2, but the underlying mechanism is not understood. We report that ECT-2-mediated RhoA activation depends on the ability of CYK-4 to localize to the plasma membrane, bind RhoA, and promote GTP hydrolysis by RhoA. Defects resulting from loss of CYK-4 RhoGAP activity can be rescued by activating mutations in ECT-2 or depletion of RGA-3/4, which functions as a conventional RhoGAP for RhoA. Consistent with CYK-4 RhoGAP activity contributing to GEF activation, the catalytic domains of CYK-4 and ECT-2 directly interact. Thus, counterintuitively, CYK-4 RhoGAP activity promotes RhoA activation. We propose that the most active form of the cytokinetic RhoGEF involves complex formation between ECT-2, centralspindlin and RhoA.

scholarly journals Tubulin dynamics in cultured mammalian cells.

1984 ◽  
Vol 99 (6) ◽  
pp. 2175-2186 ◽  
Author(s):  
W M Saxton ◽  
D L Stemple ◽  
R J Leslie ◽  
E D Salmon ◽  
M Zavortink ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Indirect Immunofluorescence ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Temporal Patterns ◽  
Apparent Difference ◽  
Rapid Phase ◽  
Cell Cycle Stage ◽  
Interphase Cells ◽  
Mitotic Cells

Bovine neurotubulin has been labeled with dichlorotriazinyl-aminofluorescein (DTAF-tubulin) and microinjected into cultured mammalian cells strains PTK1 and BSC. The fibrous, fluorescence patterns that developed in the microinjected cells were almost indistinguishable from the pattern of microtubules seen in the same cells by indirect immunofluorescence. DTAF-tubulin participated in the formation of all visible, microtubule-related structures at all cell cycle stages for at least 48 h after injection. Treatments of injected cells with Nocodazole or Taxol showed that DTAF-tubulin closely mimicked the behavior of endogenous tubulin. The rate at which microtubules incorporated DTAF-tubulin depended on the cell-cycle stage of the injected cell. Mitotic microtubules became fluorescent within seconds while interphase microtubules required minutes. Studies using fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching confirmed this apparent difference in tubulin dynamics between mitotic and interphase cells. The temporal patterns of redistribution included a rapid phase (approximately 3 s) that we attribute to diffusion of free DTAF-tubulin and a second, slower phase that seems to represent the exchange of bleached DTAF-tubulin in microtubules with free, unbleached DTAF-tubulin. Mean half times of redistribution were 18-fold shorter in mitotic cells than they were in interphase cells.

scholarly journals Calcium-Sensing Receptor Stimulation in Cultured Glomerular Podocytes Induces TRPC6-Dependent Calcium Entry and RhoA Activation

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 1777-1789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Tianrong Ji ◽  
Qin Wang ◽  
Kexin Meng ◽  
Rui Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protective Action ◽  
Focal Adhesions ◽  
Stress Fiber ◽  
Fiber Formation ◽  
Stress Fibers ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Calcium Sensing Receptor ◽  
Rhoa Activity ◽  
Rhoa Activation ◽  
Calcium Sensing

Background/Aims: Recent studies provided compelling evidence that stimulation of the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) exerts direct renoprotective action at the glomerular podocyte level. This protective action may be attributed to the RhoA-dependent stabilization of the actin cytoskeleton. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: In the present study, an immortalized human podocyte cell line was used. Fluo-3 fluorescence was utilized to determine intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), and western blotting was used to measure canonical transient receptor potential 6 (TRPC6) protein expression and RhoA activity. Stress fibers were detected by FITC-phalloidin. Results: Activating CaSR with a high extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) or R-568 (a type II CaSR agonist) induces an increase in the [Ca2+]i in a dose-dependent manner. This increase in [Ca2+]i is phospholipase C (PLC)-dependent and is smaller in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ than in the presence of 0.5 mM [Ca2+]o. The CaSR activation-induced [Ca2+]i increase is attenuated by the pharmacological blockage of TRPC6 channels or siRNA targeting TRPC6. These data suggest that TRPC6 is involved in CaSR activation-induced Ca2+ influx. Consistent with a previous study, CaSR stimulation results in an increase in RhoA activity. However, the knockdown of TRPC6 significantly abolished the RhoA activity increase induced by CaSR stimulation, suggesting that TRPC6-dependent Ca2+ entry is required for RhoA activation. The activated RhoA is involved in the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions in response to CaSR stimulation because siRNA targeting RhoA attenuated the increase in the stress fiber mediated by CaSR stimulation. Moreover, this effect of CaSR activation on the formation of stress fibers is also abolished by the knockdown of TRPC6. Conclusion: TRPC6 is involved in the regulation of stress fiber formation and focal adhesions via the RhoA pathway in response to CaSR activation. This may explain the direct protective action of CaSR agonists.

scholarly journals Adhesion-dependent and Contractile Ring-independent Equatorial Furrowing during Cytokinesis in Mammalian Cells

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 3865-3872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masamitsu Kanada ◽  
Akira Nagasaki ◽  
Taro Q.P. Uyeda
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Rat Kidney ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Rho Kinase ◽  
Cellular Slime Mold ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Normal Rat ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Coated Surfaces

Myosin II-dependent contraction of the contractile ring drives equatorial furrowing during cytokinesis in animal cells. Nonetheless, myosin II-null cells of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium divide efficiently when adhering to substrates by making use of polar traction forces. Here, we show that in the presence of 30 μM blebbistatin, a potent myosin II inhibitor, normal rat kidney (NRK) cells adhering to fibronectin-coated surfaces formed equatorial furrows and divided in a manner strikingly similar to myosin II-null Dictyostelium cells. Such blebbistatin-resistant cytokinesis was absent in partially detached NRK cells and was disrupted in adherent cells if the advance of their polar lamellipodia was disturbed by neighboring cells. Y-27632 (40 μM), which inhibits Rho-kinase, was similar to 30 μM blebbistatin in that it inhibited cytokinesis of partially detached NRK cells but only prolonged furrow ingression in attached cells. In the presence of 100 μM blebbistatin, most NRK cells that initiated anaphase formed tight furrows, although scission never occurred. Adherent HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells also formed equatorial furrows efficiently in the presence of 100 μM blebbistatin. These results provide direct evidence for adhesion-dependent, contractile ring-independent equatorial furrowing in mammalian cells and demonstrate the importance of substrate adhesion for cytokinesis.

scholarly journals Adenovirus E4orf4 protein induces PP2A-dependent growth arrest in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and interacts with the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome

2001 ◽  
Vol 154 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Kornitzer ◽  
Rakefet Sharf ◽  
Tamar Kleinberger
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Growth Arrest ◽  
Anaphase Promoting Complex ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Cycle Growth ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Dependent Growth ◽  
Synthetically Lethal

Adenovirus early region 4 open reading frame 4 (E4orf4) protein has been reported to induce p53-independent, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)–dependent apoptosis in transformed mammalian cells. In this report, we show that E4orf4 induces an irreversible growth arrest in Saccharomyces cerevisiae at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Growth inhibition requires the presence of yeast PP2A-Cdc55, and is accompanied by accumulation of reactive oxygen species. E4orf4 expression is synthetically lethal with mutants defective in mitosis, including Cdc28/Cdk1 and anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) mutants. Although APC/C activity is inhibited in the presence of E4orf4, Cdc28/Cdk1 is activated and partially counteracts the E4orf4-induced cell cycle arrest. The E4orf4–PP2A complex physically interacts with the APC/C, suggesting that E4orf4 functions by directly targeting PP2A to the APC/C, thereby leading to its inactivation. Finally, we show that E4orf4 can induce G2/M arrest in mammalian cells before apoptosis, indicating that E4orf4-induced events in yeast and mammalian cells are highly conserved.

scholarly journals Primase p49 mRNA expression is serum stimulated but does not vary with the cell cycle.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1940-1945 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Y Tseng ◽  
C E Prussak ◽  
M T Almazan
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Proliferating Cells ◽  
Restriction Point ◽  
Serum Stimulation ◽  
G1 Cells

Expression of the small-subunit p49 mRNA of primase, the enzyme that synthesizes oligoribonucleotides for initiation of DNA replication, was examined in mouse cells stimulated to proliferate by serum and in growing cells. The level of p49 mRNA increased approximately 10-fold after serum stimulation and preceded synthesis of DNA and histone H3 mRNA by several hours. Expression of p49 mRNA was not sensitive to inhibition by low concentrations of cycloheximide, which suggested that the increase in mRNA occurred before the restriction point control for cell cycle progression described for mammalian cells and was not under its control. p49 mRNA levels were not coupled to DNA synthesis, as observed for the replication-dependent histone genes, since hydroxyurea or aphidicolin had no effect on p49 mRNA levels when added before or during S phase. These inhibitors did have an effect, however, on the stability of p49 mRNA and increased the half-life from 3.5 h to about 20 h, which suggested an interdependence of p49 mRNA degradation and DNA synthesis. When growing cells were examined after separation by centrifugal elutriation, little difference was detected for p49 mRNA levels in different phases of the cell cycle. This was also observed when elutriated G1 cells were allowed to continue growth and then were blocked in M phase with colcemid. Only a small decrease in p49 mRNA occurred, whereas H3 mRNA rapidly decreased, when cells entered G2/M. These results indicate that the level of primase p49 mRNA is not cell cycle regulated but is present constitutively in proliferating cells.

scholarly journals Assembly of normal actomyosin rings in the absence of Mid1p and cortical nodes in fission yeast

2008 ◽  
Vol 183 (6) ◽  
pp. 979-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinyi Huang ◽  
Hongyan Yan ◽  
Mohan K. Balasubramanian
Keyword(s):  
Schizosaccharomyces Pombe ◽  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Ring Structure ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Ring Assembly ◽  
Cell Biol ◽  
In Cells

Cytokinesis in many eukaryotes depends on the function of an actomyosin contractile ring. The mechanisms regulating assembly and positioning of this ring are not fully understood. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe divides using an actomyosin ring and is an attractive organism for the study of cytokinesis. Recent studies in S. pombe (Wu, J.Q., V. Sirotkin, D.R. Kovar, M. Lord, C.C. Beltzner, J.R. Kuhn, and T.D. Pollard. 2006. J. Cell Biol. 174:391–402; Vavylonis, D., J.Q. Wu, S. Hao, B. O'Shaughnessy, and T.D. Pollard. 2008. Science. 319:97–100) have suggested that the assembly of the actomyosin ring is initiated from a series of cortical nodes containing several components of this ring. These studies have proposed that actomyosin interactions bring together the cortical nodes to form a compacted ring structure. In this study, we test this model in cells that are unable to assemble cortical nodes. Although the cortical nodes play a role in the timing of ring assembly, we find that they are dispensable for the assembly of orthogonal actomyosin rings. Thus, a mechanism that is independent of cortical nodes is sufficient for the assembly of normal actomyosin rings.

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