scholarly journals Katanin Is Responsible for the M-Phase Microtubule-severing Activity in Xenopus Eggs

1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1847-1861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis J. McNally ◽  
Susan Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Human Fibroblasts ◽  
Cyclin B ◽  
Microtubule Severing ◽  
Spindle Poles ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Dynamic Structures ◽  
Cycle Dependent ◽  
Xenopus Egg Extracts

Microtubules are dynamic structures whose proper rearrangement during the cell cycle is essential for the positioning of membranes during interphase and for chromosome segregation during mitosis. The previous discovery of a cyclin B/cdc2-activated microtubule-severing activity in M-phase Xenopus egg extracts suggested that a microtubule-severing protein might play an important role in cell cycle-dependent changes in microtubule dynamics and organization. However, the isolation of three different microtubule-severing proteins, p56, EF1α, and katanin, has only confused the issue because none of these proteins is directly activated by cyclin B/cdc2. Here we use immunodepletion with antibodies specific for a vertebrate katanin homologue to demonstrate that katanin is responsible for the majority of M-phase severing activity inXenopus eggs. This result suggests that katanin is responsible for changes in microtubules occurring at mitosis. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that katanin is concentrated at a microtubule-dependent structure at mitotic spindle poles inXenopus A6 cells and in human fibroblasts, suggesting a specific role in microtubule disassembly at spindle poles. Surprisingly, katanin was also found in adult mouse brain, indicating that katanin may have other functions distinct from its mitotic role.

scholarly journals Activation of the p42 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway Inhibits Cdc2 Activation and Entry into M-Phase in CyclingXenopus Egg Extracts

1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 451-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Bitangcol ◽  
Andrew S.-S. Chau ◽  
Ellamae Stadnick ◽  
Manfred J. Lohka ◽  
Bryan Dicken ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Specific Inhibitor ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Cyclin B ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Xenopus Egg Extracts

We have added constitutively active MAP kinase/ERK kinase (MEK), an activator of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, to cycling Xenopus egg extracts at various times during the cell cycle. p42MAPK activation during entry into M-phase arrested the cell cycle in metaphase, as has been shown previously. Unexpectedly, p42MAPK activation during interphase inhibited entry into M-phase. In these interphase-arrested extracts, H1 kinase activity remained low, Cdc2 was tyrosine phosphorylated, and nuclei continued to enlarge. The interphase arrest was overcome by recombinant cyclin B. In other experiments, p42MAPK activation by MEK or by Mos inhibited Cdc2 activation by cyclin B. PD098059, a specific inhibitor of MEK, blocked the effects of MEK(QP) and Mos. Mos-induced activation of p42MAPK did not inhibit DNA replication. These results indicate that, in addition to the established role of p42MAPK activation in M-phase arrest, the inappropriate activation of p42MAPK during interphase prevents normal entry into M-phase.

The Polo-like kinase Plx1 is a component of the MPF amplification loop at the G2/M-phase transition of the cell cycle in Xenopus eggs

1998 ◽  
Vol 111 (12) ◽  
pp. 1751-1757 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Abrieu ◽  
T. Brassac ◽  
S. Galas ◽  
D. Fisher ◽  
J.C. Labbe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Transition ◽  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cyclin A ◽  
Cyclin B ◽  
Cdc2 Kinase ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Amplification Loop

We have investigated whether Plx1, a kinase recently shown to phosphorylate cdc25c in vitro, is required for activation of cdc25c at the G2/M-phase transition of the cell cycle in Xenopus. Using immunodepletion or the mere addition of an antibody against the C terminus of Plx1, which suppressed its activation (not its activity) at G2/M, we show that Plx1 activity is required for activation of cyclin B-cdc2 kinase in both interphase egg extracts receiving recombinant cyclin B, and cycling extracts that spontaneously oscillate between interphase and mitosis. Furthermore, a positive feedback loop allows cyclin B-cdc2 kinase to activate Plx1 at the G2/M-phase transition. In contrast, activation of cyclin A-cdc2 kinase does not require Plx1 activity, and cyclin A-cdc2 kinase fails to activate Plx1 and its consequence, cdc25c activation in cycling extracts.

scholarly journals Cell Cycle Regulation of the Replication Licensing System: Involvement of a Cdk-dependent Inhibitor

1997 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiro M. Mahbubani ◽  
James P.J. Chong ◽  
Stephane Chevalier ◽  
Pia Thömmes ◽  
J. Julian Blow
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Kinase Inhibitor ◽  
Cyclin B ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Xenopus Egg ◽  
Xenopus Egg Extracts ◽  
Cycle Regulation

The replication licensing factor (RLF) is an essential initiation factor that is involved in preventing re-replication of chromosomal DNA in a single cell cycle. In Xenopus egg extracts, it can be separated into two components: RLF-M, a complex of MCM/P1 polypeptides, and RLF-B, which is currently unpurified. In this paper we investigate variations in RLF activity throughout the cell cycle. Total RLF activity is low in metaphase, due to a lack of RLF-B activity and the presence of an RLF inhibitor. RLF-B is rapidly activated on exit from metaphase, and then declines during interphase. The RLF inhibitor present in metaphase extracts is dependent on the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks). Affinity depletion of Cdks from metaphase extracts removed the RLF inhibitor, while Cdc2/cyclin B directly inhibited RLF activity. In metaphase extracts treated with the protein kinase inhibitor 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP), both cyclin B and the RLF inhibitor were stabilized although the extracts morphologically entered interphase. These results are consistent with studies in other organisms that invoke a key role for Cdks in preventing re-replication of DNA in a single cell cycle.

scholarly journals Aurora B kinase and protein phosphatase 1 have opposing roles in modulating kinetochore assembly

2008 ◽  
Vol 181 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Emanuele ◽  
Weijie Lan ◽  
Miri Jwa ◽  
Stephanie A. Miller ◽  
Clarence S.M. Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Protein Phosphatase ◽  
Protein Phosphatase 1 ◽  
Aurora B ◽  
Aurora B Kinase ◽  
Culture Cells ◽  
Kinetochore Assembly ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Cycle Dependent

The outer kinetochore binds microtubules to control chromosome movement. Outer kinetochore assembly is restricted to mitosis, whereas the inner kinetochore remains tethered to centromeres throughout the cell cycle. The cues that regulate this transient assembly are unknown. We find that inhibition of Aurora B kinase significantly reduces outer kinetochore assembly in Xenopus laevis and human tissue culture cells, frog egg extracts, and budding yeast. In X. leavis M phase extracts, preassembled kinetochores disassemble after inhibiting Aurora B activity with either drugs or antibodies. Kinetochore disassembly, induced by Aurora B inhibition, is rescued by restraining protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) activity. PP1 is necessary for kinetochores to disassemble at the exit from M phase, and purified enzyme is sufficient to cause disassembly on isolated mitotic nuclei. These data demonstrate that Aurora B activity is required for kinetochore maintenance and that PP1 is necessary and sufficient to disassemble kinetochores. We suggest that Aurora B and PP1 coordinate cell cycle–dependent changes in kinetochore assembly though phosphorylation of kinetochore substrates.

Phosphorylation of Xenopus cyclins B1 and B2 is not required for cell cycle transitions

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3860-3867
Author(s):  
T Izumi ◽  
J L Maller
Keyword(s):  
Map Kinase ◽  
Cyclin B1 ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Cyclin B ◽  
Phosphorylation Sites ◽  
Cdc2 Kinase ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Xenopus Egg Extracts

The cdc2 kinase and B-type cyclins are known to be components of maturation- or M-phase-promoting factor (MPF). Phosphorylation of cyclin B has been reported previously and may regulate entry into and exit from mitosis and meiosis. To investigate the role of cyclin B phosphorylation, we replaced putative cdc2 kinase phosphorylation sites in Xenopus cyclins B1 and B2 by using oligonucleotide site-directed mutagenesis. We found that Ser-90 of cyclin B2 and Ser-94 or Ser-96 of cyclin B1 are the main phosphorylation sites both in functional Xenopus egg extracts and after phosphorylation with purified MPF in vitro. Microtubule-associated protein (MAP) kinase from Xenopus eggs phosphorylated cyclin B1 significantly at Ser-94 or Ser-96, whereas it was largely inactive against cyclin B2. The substitutions that ablated phosphorylation at these sites, however, resulted in no functional differences between mutant and wild-type cyclin, as judged by the kinetics of M-phase degradation, induction of mitosis in egg extracts, or induction of oocyte maturation. These results indicate that the phosphorylation of Xenopus B-type cyclins by cdc2 kinase or MAP kinase is not required for the hallmark functions of cyclin.

scholarly journals Regulation of Cdc2/Cyclin B Activation in Xenopus Egg Extracts via Inhibitory Phosphorylation of Cdc25C Phosphatase by Ca2+/Calmodium-dependent Kinase II

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 4003-4014 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. A. Hutchins ◽  
Dina Dikovskaya ◽  
Paul R. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Kinase Activity ◽  
Embryonic Cell ◽  
Cyclin B ◽  
Checkpoint Kinases ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Inhibitory Site

Activation of Cdc2/cyclin B kinase and entry into mitosis requires dephosphorylation of inhibitory sites on Cdc2 by Cdc25 phosphatase. In vertebrates, Cdc25C is inhibited by phosphorylation at a single site targeted by the checkpoint kinases Chk1 and Cds1/Chk2 in response to DNA damage or replication arrest. In Xenopus early embryos, the inhibitory site on Cdc25C (S287) is also phosphorylated by a distinct protein kinase that may determine the intrinsic timing of the cell cycle. We show that S287-kinase activity is repressed in extracts of unfertilized Xenopus eggs arrested in M phase but is rapidly stimulated upon release into interphase by addition of Ca2+, which mimics fertilization. S287-kinase activity is not dependent on cyclin B degradation or inactivation of Cdc2/cyclin B kinase, indicating a direct mechanism of activation by Ca2+. Indeed, inhibitor studies identify the predominant S287-kinase as Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). CaMKII phosphorylates Cdc25C efficiently on S287 in vitro and, like Chk1, is inhibited by 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) and debromohymenialdisine, compounds that abrogate G2 arrest in somatic cells. CaMKII delays Cdc2/cyclin B activation via phosphorylation of Cdc25C at S287 in egg extracts, indicating that this pathway regulates the timing of mitosis during the early embryonic cell cycle.

scholarly journals Phosphorylation of Xenopus cyclins B1 and B2 is not required for cell cycle transitions.

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3860-3867 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Izumi ◽  
J L Maller
Keyword(s):  
Map Kinase ◽  
Cyclin B1 ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Cyclin B ◽  
Phosphorylation Sites ◽  
Cdc2 Kinase ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Xenopus Egg Extracts

The cdc2 kinase and B-type cyclins are known to be components of maturation- or M-phase-promoting factor (MPF). Phosphorylation of cyclin B has been reported previously and may regulate entry into and exit from mitosis and meiosis. To investigate the role of cyclin B phosphorylation, we replaced putative cdc2 kinase phosphorylation sites in Xenopus cyclins B1 and B2 by using oligonucleotide site-directed mutagenesis. We found that Ser-90 of cyclin B2 and Ser-94 or Ser-96 of cyclin B1 are the main phosphorylation sites both in functional Xenopus egg extracts and after phosphorylation with purified MPF in vitro. Microtubule-associated protein (MAP) kinase from Xenopus eggs phosphorylated cyclin B1 significantly at Ser-94 or Ser-96, whereas it was largely inactive against cyclin B2. The substitutions that ablated phosphorylation at these sites, however, resulted in no functional differences between mutant and wild-type cyclin, as judged by the kinetics of M-phase degradation, induction of mitosis in egg extracts, or induction of oocyte maturation. These results indicate that the phosphorylation of Xenopus B-type cyclins by cdc2 kinase or MAP kinase is not required for the hallmark functions of cyclin.

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