scholarly journals Fission Yeast mto2p Regulates Microtubule Nucleation by the Centrosomin-related Protein mto1p

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 3040-3051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itaru Samejima ◽  
Paula C. C. Lourenço ◽  
Hilary A. Snaith ◽  
Kenneth E. Sawin

From an insertional mutagenesis screen, we isolated a novel gene, mto2+, involved in microtubule organization in fission yeast. mto2Δ strains are viable but exhibit defects in interphase microtubule nucleation and in formation of the postanaphase microtubule array at the end of mitosis. The mto2Δ defects represent a subset of the defects displayed by cells deleted for mto1+ (also known as mod20+ and mbo1+), a centrosomin-related protein required to recruit the γ-tubulin complex to cytoplasmic microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs). We show that mto2p colocalizes with mto1p at MTOCs throughout the cell cycle and that mto1p and mto2p coimmunoprecipitate from cytoplasmic extracts. In vitro studies suggest that mto2p binds directly to mto1p. In mto2Δ mutants, although some aspects of mto1p localization are perturbed, mto1p can still localize to spindle pole bodies and the cell division site and to “satellite” particles on interphase microtubules. In mto1Δ mutants, localization of mto2p to all of these MTOCs is strongly reduced or absent. We also find that in mto2Δ mutants, cytoplasmic forms of the γ-tubulin complex are mislocalized, and the γ-tubulin complex no longer coimmunoprecipitates with mto1p from cell extracts. These experiments establish mto2p as a major regulator of mto1p-mediated microtubule nucleation by the γ-tubulin complex.

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 3052-3063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srinivas Venkatram ◽  
Jennifer L. Jennings ◽  
Andrew Link ◽  
Kathleen L. Gould

Microtubules regulate diverse cellular processes, including chromosome segregation, nuclear positioning, and cytokinesis. In many organisms, microtubule nucleation requires γ-tubulin and associated proteins present at specific microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs). In fission yeast, interphase cytoplasmic microtubules originate from poorly characterized interphase MTOCs and spindle pole body (SPB), and during late anaphase from the equatorial MTOC (EMTOC). It has been previously shown that Mto1p (Mbo1p/Mod20p) function is important for the organization/nucleation of all cytoplasmic microtubules. Here, we show that Mto2p, a novel protein, interacts with Mto1p and is important for establishing a normal interphase cytoplasmic microtubule array. In addition, mto2Δ cells fail to establish a stable EMTOC and localize γ-tubulin complex members to this medial structure. As predicted from these functions, Mto2p localizes to microtubules, the SPB, and the EMTOC in an Mto1p-dependent manner. mto2Δ cells fail to anchor the cytokinetic actin ring in the medial region of the cell and under conditions that mildly perturb actin structures, these rings unravel in mto2Δ cells. Our results suggest that the Mto2p and the EMTOC are critical for anchoring the cytokinetic actin ring to the medial region of the cell and for proper coordination of mitosis with cytokinesis.


eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Gunzelmann ◽  
Diana Rüthnick ◽  
Tien-chen Lin ◽  
Wanlu Zhang ◽  
Annett Neuner ◽  
...  

Stu2/XMAP215/ZYG-9/Dis1/Alp14/Msps/ch-TOG family members in association with with γ-tubulin complexes nucleate microtubules, but we know little about the interplay of these nucleation factors. Here, we show that the budding yeast Stu2 in complex with the γ-tubulin receptor Spc72 nucleates microtubules in vitro without the small γ-tubulin complex (γ-TuSC). Upon γ-TuSC addition, Stu2 facilitates Spc72–γ-TuSC interaction by binding to Spc72 and γ-TuSC. Stu2 together with Spc72–γ-TuSC increases microtubule nucleation in a process that is dependent on the TOG domains of Stu2. Importantly, these activities are also important for microtubule nucleation in vivo. Stu2 stabilizes Spc72–γ-TuSC at the minus end of cytoplasmic microtubules (cMTs) and an in vivo assay indicates that cMT nucleation requires the TOG domains of Stu2. Upon γ-tubulin depletion, we observed efficient cMT nucleation away from the spindle pole body (SPB), which was dependent on Stu2. Thus, γ-TuSC restricts cMT assembly to the SPB whereas Stu2 nucleates cMTs together with γ-TuSC and stabilizes γ-TuSC at the cMT minus end.


Author(s):  
Hirohisa Masuda ◽  
Saeko Takada ◽  
Takehiko Shibata ◽  
W. Zacheus Cande ◽  
Yasushi Hiraoka

2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Lang ◽  
Sandrine Grava ◽  
Tineke van den Hoorn ◽  
Rhonda Trimble ◽  
Peter Philippsen ◽  
...  

We investigated the migration of multiple nuclei in hyphae of the filamentous fungus Ashbya gossypii. Three types of cytoplasmic microtubule (cMT)-dependent nuclear movements were characterized using live cell imaging: short-range oscillations (up to 4.5 μm/min), rotations (up to 180° in 30 s), and long-range nuclear bypassing (up to 9 μm/min). These movements were superimposed on a cMT-independent mode of nuclear migration, cotransport with the cytoplasmic stream. This latter mode is sufficient to support wild-type-like hyphal growth speeds. cMT-dependent nuclear movements were led by a nuclear-associated microtubule-organizing center, the spindle pole body (SPB), which is the sole site of microtubule nucleation in A. gossypii. Analysis of A. gossypii SPBs by electron microscopy revealed an overall laminar structure similar to the budding yeast SPB but with distinct differences at the cytoplasmic side. Up to six perpendicular and tangential cMTs emanated from a more spherical outer plaque. The perpendicular and tangential cMTs most likely correspond to short, often cortex-associated cMTs and to long, hyphal growth-axis–oriented cMTs, respectively, seen by in vivo imaging. Each SPB nucleates its own array of cMTs, and the lack of overlapping cMT arrays between neighboring nuclei explains the autonomous nuclear oscillations and bypassing observed in A. gossypii hyphae.


1991 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.M. Messinger ◽  
D.F. Albertini

The disposition, function and fate of centrosomes were analysed in mouse oocytes undergoing in vitro meiotic maturation, using multiple-label fluorescence microscopy. Oocytes fixed at various points during meiotic progression were double labeled with either human centrosome-specific antibody, 5051, and anti-tubulin antibodies or 5051 and MPM-2 antibodies in order to evaluate the microtubule nucleation capacity and phosphorylation status of centrosomes during this process. Double labeling with anti-tubulin antibodies revealed two populations of centrosomes that undergo stage-specific changes in number, location and microtubule nucleation capacity in relation to spindle assembly and cytoplasmic events. Specifically, one population was consistently associated with chromatin throughout meiotic maturation whereas a second population of cytoplasmic centrosomes exhibited maximal numbers and nucleation capacity at prometaphase and anaphase of meiosis-I. Quantitative evaluation of cytoplasmic centrosomes indicated increased numbers during the transition from diakinesis to prometaphase and metaphase to anaphase and total disappearance during telophase. Colocalization studies with MPM-2 revealed that centrosomes were always phosphorylated. However, at metaphase of meiosis I and II the microtubule nucleation capacity of centrosomes was diminished. These results suggest the existence of two discrete populations of centrosomes in the mouse oocyte that are coordinately regulated to subserve aspects of microtubule organization relative to both nuclear and cytoplasmic events.


1997 ◽  
Vol 110 (20) ◽  
pp. 2533-2545 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Tassin ◽  
C. Celati ◽  
M. Paintrand ◽  
M. Bornens

Although varying in size and complexity, centrosomes have conserved functions throughout the evolutionary range of eukaryotes, and thus may display conserved components. In this work, we took advantage of the recent advances in the isolation of the budding yeast spindle pole body, the development of specific immunological probes and the molecular characterisation of genes involved in spindle pole body duplication or assembly. Screening a monoclonal antibody library against Saccharomyces cerevisiae spindle pole body components, we found that two monoclonal antibodies, directed against two different parts of the yeast Spc110p, decorate the centrosome from mammalian cells in an asymmetrical manner. Western blot experiments identified a 100 kDa protein specifically enriched in centrosome preparations from human cells. This protein is phosphorylated during mitosis and is tightly associated with the centrosome: only denaturing conditions such as 8 M urea were able to solubilise it. Purified immunoglobulins directed against Spc110p inhibit microtubule nucleation on isolated human centrosomes, using brain phosphocellulose-tubulin or Xenopus egg extract tubulin. This result suggested that the centrosomal 100 kDa protein could be involved in a microtubule nucleation complex. To test this hypothesis, we turned to Xenopus species, in which mAb anti-Spc110p decorated centrosomes from somatic cells and identified a 116 kDa protein in egg extract. We performed a partial purification of the gamma-tubulin-ring complex from egg extract. Sucrose gradient sedimentation, immunoprecipitation and native gels demonstrated that the Xenopus 116 kDa protein and gamma-tubulin were found in the same complex. Altogether, these results suggest the existence of an yeast Spc110-related protein in vertebrate centrosomes which is involved in microtubule nucleation.


2001 ◽  
Vol 114 (13) ◽  
pp. 2427-2435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bunshiro Goto ◽  
Koei Okazaki ◽  
Osami Niwa

Chromosomes are not packed randomly in the nucleus. The Rabl orientation is an example of the non-random arrangement of chromosomes, centromeres are grouped in a limited area near the nuclear periphery and telomeres are located apart from centromeres. This orientation is established during mitosis and maintained through subsequent interphase in a range of species. We report that a Rabl-like configuration can be formed de novo without a preceding mitosis during the transition from the sexual phase to the vegetative phase of the life cycle in fission yeast. In this process, each of the dispersed centromeres is often associated with a novel Sad1-containing body that is contacting a cytoplasmic microtubule laterally (Sad1 is a component of the spindle pole body (SPB)). The Sad1-containing body was colocalized with other known SPB components, Kms1 and Spo15 but not with Cut12, indicating that it represents a novel SPB-related complex. The existence of the triplex structure (centromere-microtubule-Sad1 body) suggests that the clustering of centromeres is controlled by a cytoplasmic microtubular system. Accordingly, when microtubules are destabilized, clustering is markedly reduced.


1999 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.J. Quintyne ◽  
S.R. Gill ◽  
D.M. Eckley ◽  
C.L. Crego ◽  
D.A. Compton ◽  
...  

The multiprotein complex, dynactin, is an integral part of the cytoplasmic dynein motor and is required for dynein-based motility in vitro and in vivo. In living cells, perturbation of the dynein–dynactin interaction profoundly blocks mitotic spindle assembly, and inhibition or depletion of dynein or dynactin from meiotic or mitotic cell extracts prevents microtubules from focusing into spindles. In interphase cells, perturbation of the dynein–dynactin complex is correlated with an inhibition of ER-to-Golgi movement and reorganization of the Golgi apparatus and the endosome–lysosome system, but the effects on microtubule organization have not previously been defined. To explore this question, we overexpressed a variety of dynactin subunits in cultured fibroblasts. Subunits implicated in dynein binding have effects on both microtubule organization and centrosome integrity. Microtubules are reorganized into unfocused arrays. The pericentriolar components, γ tubulin and dynactin, are lost from centrosomes, but pericentrin localization persists. Microtubule nucleation from centrosomes proceeds relatively normally, but microtubules become disorganized soon thereafter. Overexpression of some, but not all, dynactin subunits also affects endomembrane localization. These data indicate that dynein and dynactin play important roles in microtubule organization at centrosomes in fibroblastic cells and provide new insights into dynactin–cargo interactions.


2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 1609-1622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masamitsu Sato ◽  
Leah Vardy ◽  
Miguel Angel Garcia ◽  
Nirada Koonrugsa ◽  
Takashi Toda

The Dis1/TOG family plays a pivotal role in microtubule organization. In fission yeast, Alp14 and Dis1 share an essential function in bipolar spindle formation. Here, we characterize Alp7, a novel coiled-coil protein that is required for organization of bipolar spindles. Both Alp7 and Alp14 colocalize to the spindle pole body (SPB) and mitotic spindles. Alp14 localization to these sites is fully dependent upon Alp7. Conversely, in the absence of Alp14, Alp7 localizes to the SPBs, but not mitotic spindles. Alp7 forms a complex with Alp14, where the C-terminal region of Alp14 interacts with the coiled-coil domain of Alp7. Intriguingly, this Alp14 C terminus is necessary and sufficient for mitotic spindle localization. Overproduction of either full-length or coiled-coil region of Alp7 results in abnormal V-shaped spindles and stabilization of interphase microtubules, which is induced independent of Alp14. Alp7 may be a functional homologue of animal TACC. Our results shed light on an interdependent relationship between Alp14/TOG and Alp7. We propose a two-step model that accounts for the recruitment of Alp7 and Alp14 to the SPB and microtubules.


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