scholarly journals Hec1 Contributes to Mitotic Centrosomal Microtubule Growth for Proper Spindle Assembly through Interaction with Hice1

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (22) ◽  
pp. 4686-4695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guikai Wu ◽  
Randy Wei ◽  
Eric Cheng ◽  
Bryan Ngo ◽  
Wen-Hwa Lee
Keyword(s):  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Coiled Coil ◽  
Spindle Assembly ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Microtubule Growth ◽  
Microtubule Aster ◽  
Interfering Rna

Previous studies have stipulated Hec1 as a conserved kinetochore component critical for mitotic control in part by directly binding to kinetochore fibers of the mitotic spindle and by recruiting spindle assembly checkpoint proteins Mad1 and Mad2. Hec1 has also been reported to localize to centrosomes, but its function there has yet to be elucidated. Here, we show that Hec1 specifically colocalizes with Hice1, a previously characterized centrosomal microtubule-binding protein, at the spindle pole region during mitosis. In addition, the C-terminal region of Hec1 directly binds to the coiled-coil domain 1 of Hice1. Depletion of Hice1 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) reduced levels of Hec1 in the cell, preferentially at centrosomes and spindle pole vicinity. Reduction of de novo microtubule nucleation from mitotic centrosomes can be observed in cells treated with Hec1 or Hice1 siRNA. Consistently, neutralization of Hec1 or Hice1 by specific antibodies impaired microtubule aster formation from purified mitotic centrosomes in vitro. Last, disruption of the Hec1/Hice1 interaction by overexpressing Hice1ΔCoil1, a mutant defective in Hec1 interaction, elicited abnormal spindle morphology often detected in Hec1 and Hice1 deficient cells. Together, the results suggest that Hec1, through cooperation with Hice1, contributes to centrosome-directed microtubule growth to facilitate establishing a proper mitotic spindle.

scholarly journals Synergistic role of fission yeast Alp16GCP6 and Mzt1MOZART1 in γ-tubulin complex recruitment to mitotic spindle pole bodies and spindle assembly

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1753-1763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirohisa Masuda ◽  
Takashi Toda
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ◽  
Synthetic Lethality ◽  
Spindle Assembly ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Microtubule Assembly ◽  
Spindle Microtubule ◽  
Spindle Pole Bodies ◽  
Mitotic Spindle Pole

In fission yeast, γ-tubulin ring complex (γTuRC)–specific components Gfh1GCP4, Mod21GCP5, and Alp16GCP6 are nonessential for cell growth. Of these deletion mutants, only alp16Δ shows synthetic lethality with temperature-sensitive mutants of Mzt1MOZART1, a component of the γTuRC required for recruitment of the complex to microtubule-organizing centers. γ-Tubulin small complex levels at mitotic spindle pole bodies (SPBs, the centrosome equivalent in fungi) and microtubule levels for preanaphase spindles are significantly reduced in alp16Δ cells but not in gfh1Δ or mod21Δ cells. Furthermore, alp16Δ cells often form monopolar spindles and frequently lose a minichromosome when the spindle assembly checkpoint is inactivated. Alp16GCP6 promotes Mzt1-dependent γTuRC recruitment to mitotic SPBs and enhances spindle microtubule assembly in a manner dependent on its expression levels. Gfh1GCP4 and Mod21GCP5 are not required for Alp16GCP6-dependent γTuRC recruitment. Mzt1 has an additional role in the activation of the γTuRC for spindle microtubule assembly. The ratio of Mzt1 to γTuRC levels for preanaphase spindles is higher than at other stages of the cell cycle. Mzt1 overproduction enhances spindle microtubule assembly without affecting γTuRC levels at mitotic SPBs. We propose that Alp16GCP6 and Mzt1 act synergistically for efficient bipolar spindle assembly to ensure faithful chromosome segregation.

scholarly journals Ensconsin/Map7 promotes microtubule growth and centrosome separation in Drosophila neural stem cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 204 (7) ◽  
pp. 1111-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Gallaud ◽  
Renaud Caous ◽  
Aude Pascal ◽  
Franck Bazile ◽  
Jean-Philippe Gagné ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Spindle Assembly ◽  
Microtubule Associated Proteins ◽  
Microtubule Polymerization ◽  
Sister Chromatids ◽  
Centrosome Separation ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
Microtubule Growth ◽  
Mitotic Spindle Assembly

The mitotic spindle is crucial to achieve segregation of sister chromatids. To identify new mitotic spindle assembly regulators, we isolated 855 microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) from Drosophila melanogaster mitotic or interphasic embryos. Using RNAi, we screened 96 poorly characterized genes in the Drosophila central nervous system to establish their possible role during spindle assembly. We found that Ensconsin/MAP7 mutant neuroblasts display shorter metaphase spindles, a defect caused by a reduced microtubule polymerization rate and enhanced by centrosome ablation. In agreement with a direct effect in regulating spindle length, Ensconsin overexpression triggered an increase in spindle length in S2 cells, whereas purified Ensconsin stimulated microtubule polymerization in vitro. Interestingly, ensc-null mutant flies also display defective centrosome separation and positioning during interphase, a phenotype also detected in kinesin-1 mutants. Collectively, our results suggest that Ensconsin cooperates with its binding partner Kinesin-1 during interphase to trigger centrosome separation. In addition, Ensconsin promotes microtubule polymerization during mitosis to control spindle length independent of Kinesin-1.

scholarly journals Dynamic microtubules are essential for efficient chromosome capture and biorientation in S. cerevisiae

2006 ◽  
Vol 175 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baoying Huang ◽  
Tim C. Huffaker
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Dimensional Space ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Spindle Assembly ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Microtubule Dynamics ◽  
Three Dimensional Space

Attachment of chromosomes to the mitotic spindle has been proposed to require dynamic microtubules that randomly search three-dimensional space and become stabilized upon capture by kinetochores. In this study, we test this model by examining chromosome capture in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants with attenuated microtubule dynamics. Although viable, these cells are slow to progress through mitosis. Preanaphase cells contain a high proportion of chromosomes that are attached to only one spindle pole and missegregate in the absence of the spindle assembly checkpoint. Measurement of the rates of chromosome capture and biorientation demonstrate that both are severely decreased in the mutants. These results provide direct evidence that dynamic microtubules are critical for efficient chromosome capture and biorientation and support the hypothesis that microtubule search and capture plays a central role in assembly of the mitotic spindle.

scholarly journals New Alleles of the YeastMPS1Gene Reveal Multiple Requirements in Spindle Pole Body Duplication

1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 759-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy R. Schutz ◽  
Mark Winey
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Spindle Pole Body ◽  
Spindle Assembly ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Single Point Mutation ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Pole Body

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Mps1p protein kinase is critical for both spindle pole body (SPB) duplication and the mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint. The mps1–1mutation causes failure early in SPB duplication, and because the spindle assembly checkpoint is also compromised, mps1–1cells proceed with a monopolar mitosis and rapidly lose viability. Here we report the genetic and molecular characterization ofmps1–1 and five new temperature-sensitive alleles ofMPS1. Each of the six alleles contains a single point mutation in the region of the gene encoding the protein kinase domain. The mutations affect several residues conserved among protein kinases, most notably the invariant glutamate in subdomain III. In vivo and in vitro kinase activity of the six epitope-tagged mutant proteins varies widely. Only two display appreciable in vitro activity, and interestingly, this activity is not thermolabile under the assay conditions used. While five of the six alleles cause SPB duplication to fail early, yielding cells with a single SPB, mps1–737cells proceed into SPB duplication and assemble a second SPB that is structurally defective. This phenotype, together with the observation of intragenic complementation between this unique allele and two others, suggests that Mps1p is required for multiple events in SPB duplication.

scholarly journals The mitotic spindle protein CKAP2 potently increases formation and stability of microtubules

eLife ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas S McAlear ◽  
Susanne Bechstedt
Keyword(s):  
Cell Division ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Apparent Rate Constant ◽  
Microtubule Dynamics ◽  
Proliferation Marker ◽  
Microtubule Growth ◽  
Large Rearrangements ◽  
And Function

Cells increase microtubule dynamics to make large rearrangements to their microtubule cytoskeleton during cell division. Changes in microtubule dynamics are essential for the formation and function of the mitotic spindle, and misregulation can lead to aneuploidy and cancer. Using in vitro reconstitution assays we show that the mitotic spindle protein Cytoskeleton-Associated Protein 2 (CKAP2) has a strong effect on nucleation of microtubules by lowering the critical tubulin concentration 100-fold. CKAP2 increases the apparent rate constant ka of microtubule growth by 50-fold and increases microtubule growth rates. In addition, CKAP2 strongly suppresses catastrophes. Our results identify CKAP2 as the most potent microtubule growth factor to date. These finding help explain CKAP2's role as an important spindle protein, proliferation marker, and oncogene.

scholarly journals Kinesin-5 Is Dispensable for Bipolar Spindle Formation and Elongation in Candida albicans, but Simultaneous Loss of Kinesin-14 Activity Is Lethal

mSphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irsa Shoukat ◽  
Corey Frazer ◽  
John S. Allingham
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Spindle Assembly ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bipolar Spindle ◽  
Spindle Elongation ◽  
Simultaneous Loss ◽  
Bipolar Spindles

ABSTRACT Mitotic spindles assume a bipolar architecture through the concerted actions of microtubules, motors, and cross-linking proteins. In most eukaryotes, kinesin-5 motors are essential to this process, and cells will fail to form a bipolar spindle without kinesin-5 activity. Remarkably, inactivation of kinesin-14 motors can rescue this kinesin-5 deficiency by reestablishing the balance of antagonistic forces needed to drive spindle pole separation and spindle assembly. We show that the yeast form of the opportunistic fungus Candida albicans assembles bipolar spindles in the absence of its sole kinesin-5, CaKip1, even though this motor exhibits stereotypical cell-cycle-dependent localization patterns within the mitotic spindle. However, cells lacking CaKip1 function have shorter metaphase spindles and longer and more numerous astral microtubules. They also show defective hyphal development. Interestingly, a small population of CaKip1-deficient spindles break apart and reform two bipolar spindles in a single nucleus. These spindles then separate, dividing the nucleus, and then elongate simultaneously in the mother and bud or across the bud neck, resulting in multinucleate cells. These data suggest that kinesin-5-independent mechanisms drive assembly and elongation of the mitotic spindle in C. albicans and that CaKip1 is important for bipolar spindle integrity. We also found that simultaneous loss of kinesin-5 and kinesin-14 (CaKar3Cik1) activity is lethal. This implies a divergence from the antagonistic force paradigm that has been ascribed to these motors, which could be linked to the high mitotic error rate that C. albicans experiences and often exploits as a generator of diversity. IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is one of the most prevalent fungal pathogens of humans and can infect a broad range of niches within its host. This organism frequently acquires resistance to antifungal agents through rapid generation of genetic diversity, with aneuploidy serving as a particularly important adaptive mechanism. This paper describes an investigation of the sole kinesin-5 in C. albicans, which is a major regulator of chromosome segregation. Contrary to other eukaryotes studied thus far, C. albicans does not require kinesin-5 function for bipolar spindle assembly or spindle elongation. Rather, this motor protein associates with the spindle throughout mitosis to maintain spindle integrity. Furthermore, kinesin-5 loss is synthetically lethal with loss of kinesin-14—canonically an opposing force producer to kinesin-5 in spindle assembly and anaphase. These results suggest a significant evolutionary rewiring of microtubule motor functions in the C. albicans mitotic spindle, which may have implications in the genetic instability of this pathogen.

scholarly journals Use of the Novel Plk1 Inhibitor ZK-Thiazolidinone to Elucidate Functions of Plk1 in Early and Late Stages of Mitosis

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 4024-4036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Santamaria ◽  
Rüdiger Neef ◽  
Uwe Eberspächer ◽  
Knut Eis ◽  
Manfred Husemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ◽  
Spindle Assembly ◽  
Cleavage Furrow ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Mitotic Progression ◽  
Binding Partner ◽  
Molecule Inhibitor ◽  
Interaction Partners ◽  
Late Stages

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is a key regulator of mitotic progression and cell division in eukaryotes. It is highly expressed in tumor cells and considered a potential target for cancer therapy. Here, we report the discovery and application of a novel potent small-molecule inhibitor of mammalian Plk1, ZK-Thiazolidinone (TAL). We have extensively characterized TAL in vitro and addressed TAL specificity within cells by studying Plk1 functions in sister chromatid separation, centrosome maturation, and spindle assembly. Moreover, we have used TAL for a detailed analysis of Plk1 in relation to PICH and PRC1, two prominent interaction partners implicated in spindle assembly checkpoint function and cytokinesis, respectively. Specifically, we show that Plk1, when inactivated by TAL, spreads over the arms of chromosomes, resembling the localization of its binding partner PICH, and that both proteins are mutually dependent on each other for correct localization. Finally, we show that Plk1 activity is essential for cleavage furrow formation and ingression, leading to successful cytokinesis.

scholarly journals Stu1p Is Physically Associated with β-Tubulin and Is Required for Structural Integrity of the Mitotic Spindle

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1881-1892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongwei Yin ◽  
Liru You ◽  
Danielle Pasqualone ◽  
Kristen M. Kopski ◽  
Tim C. Huffaker
Keyword(s):  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Spindle Poles ◽  
Balance Of Forces ◽  
Related Proteins ◽  
Β Tubulin

Formation of the bipolar mitotic spindle relies on a balance of forces acting on the spindle poles. The primary outward force is generated by the kinesin-related proteins of the BimC family that cross-link antiparallel interpolar microtubules and slide them past each other. Here, we provide evidence that Stu1p is also required for the production of this outward force in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the temperature-sensitive stu1–5mutant, spindle pole separation is inhibited, and preanaphase spindles collapse, with their previously separated poles being drawn together. The temperature sensitivity of stu1–5 can be suppressed by doubling the dosage of Cin8p, a yeast BimC kinesin–related protein. Stu1p was observed to be a component of the mitotic spindle localizing to the midregion of anaphase spindles. It also binds to microtubules in vitro, and we have examined the nature of this interaction. We show that Stu1p interacts specifically with β-tubulin and identify the domains required for this interaction on both Stu1p and β-tubulin. Taken together, these findings suggest that Stu1p binds to interpolar microtubules of the mitotic spindle and plays an essential role in their ability to provide an outward force on the spindle poles.

scholarly journals Microtubule Cytoskeleton Remodeling by Acentriolar Microtubule-organizing Centers at the Entry and Exit from Mitosis in Drosophila Somatic Cells

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 2796-2808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Moutinho-Pereira ◽  
Alain Debec ◽  
Helder Maiato
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Animal Cell ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Spindle Assembly ◽  
Entry And Exit ◽  
Down Regulation ◽  
Microtubule Organizing Centers ◽  
Cytoskeleton Remodeling

Cytoskeleton microtubules undergo a reversible metamorphosis as cells enter and exit mitosis to build a transient mitotic spindle required for chromosome segregation. Centrosomes play a dominant but dispensable role in microtubule (MT) organization throughout the animal cell cycle, supporting the existence of concurrent mechanisms that remain unclear. Here we investigated MT organization at the entry and exit from mitosis, after perturbation of centriole function in Drosophila S2 cells. We found that several MTs originate from acentriolar microtubule-organizing centers (aMTOCs) that contain γ-tubulin and require Centrosomin (Cnn) for normal architecture and function. During spindle assembly, aMTOCs associated with peripheral MTs are recruited to acentriolar spindle poles by an Ncd/dynein-dependent clustering mechanism to form rudimentary aster-like structures. At anaphase onset, down-regulation of CDK1 triggers massive formation of cytoplasmic MTs de novo, many of which nucleated directly from aMTOCs. CDK1 down-regulation at anaphase coordinates the activity of Msps/XMAP215 and the kinesin-13 KLP10A to favor net MT growth and stability from aMTOCs. Finally, we show that microtubule nucleation from aMTOCs also occurs in cells containing centrosomes. Our data reveal a new form of cell cycle–regulated MTOCs that contribute for MT cytoskeleton remodeling during mitotic spindle assembly/disassembly in animal somatic cells, independently of centrioles.

scholarly journals Augmin accumulation on long-lived microtubules drives amplification and kinetochore-directed growth

2019 ◽  
Vol 218 (7) ◽  
pp. 2150-2168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana F. David ◽  
Philippe Roudot ◽  
Wesley R. Legant ◽  
Eric Betzig ◽  
Gaudenz Danuser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spindle Assembly ◽  
Light Sheet ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Directional Bias ◽  
Fiber Assembly ◽  
Light Sheet Microscopy ◽  
Sister Chromatids ◽  
Spindle Dynamics ◽  
Dividing Cells ◽  
Microtubule Growth

Dividing cells reorganize their microtubule cytoskeleton into a bipolar spindle, which moves one set of sister chromatids to each nascent daughter cell. Early spindle assembly models postulated that spindle pole–derived microtubules search the cytoplasmic space until they randomly encounter a kinetochore to form a stable attachment. More recent work uncovered several additional, centrosome-independent microtubule generation pathways, but the contributions of each pathway to spindle assembly have remained unclear. Here, we combined live microscopy and mathematical modeling to show that most microtubules nucleate at noncentrosomal regions in dividing human cells. Using a live-cell probe that selectively labels aged microtubule lattices, we demonstrate that the distribution of growing microtubule plus ends can be almost entirely explained by Augmin-dependent amplification of long-lived microtubule lattices. By ultrafast 3D lattice light-sheet microscopy, we observed that this mechanism results in a strong directional bias of microtubule growth toward individual kinetochores. Our systematic quantification of spindle dynamics reveals highly coordinated microtubule growth during kinetochore fiber assembly.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document