scholarly journals Tension promotes kinetochore-microtubule release in response to Aurora B activity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geng-Yuan Chen ◽  
Fioranna Renda ◽  
Huaiying Zhang ◽  
Alper Gokden ◽  
Daniel Z. Wu ◽  
...  

AbstractAurora B kinase regulates kinetochore-microtubule interactions to ensure accurate chromosome segregation in cell division. Tension provides a signal to discriminate attachment errors from bi-oriented kinetochores with sisters correctly attached to opposite spindle poles. Current models focus on tension as an input to locally regulate Aurora B activity. Here we show that the outcome of Aurora B activity depends on tension. Using an optogenetic approach to manipulate Aurora B at individual kinetochores, we find that kinase activity promotes microtubule release when tension is high. Conversely, when tension is low, Aurora B activity promotes depolymerization of kinetochore-microtubule bundles while maintaining attachment. We propose that tension is a signal inducing distinct error-correction mechanisms, with release or depolymerization advantageous for typical errors characterized by high or low tension, respectively.

2021 ◽  
Vol 220 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geng-Yuan Chen ◽  
Fioranna Renda ◽  
Huaiying Zhang ◽  
Alper Gokden ◽  
Daniel Z. Wu ◽  
...  

To ensure accurate chromosome segregation, interactions between kinetochores and microtubules are regulated by a combination of mechanics and biochemistry. Tension provides a signal to discriminate attachment errors from bi-oriented kinetochores with sisters correctly attached to opposite spindle poles. Biochemically, Aurora B kinase phosphorylates kinetochores to destabilize interactions with microtubules. To link mechanics and biochemistry, current models regard tension as an input signal to locally regulate Aurora B activity. Here, we show that the outcome of kinetochore phosphorylation depends on tension. Using optogenetics to manipulate Aurora B at individual kinetochores, we find that kinase activity promotes microtubule release when tension is high. Conversely, when tension is low, Aurora B activity promotes depolymerization of kinetochore–microtubules while maintaining attachment. Thus, phosphorylation converts a catch-bond, in which tension stabilizes attachments, to a slip-bond, which releases microtubules under tension. We propose that tension is a signal inducing distinct error-correction pathways, with release or depolymerization being advantageous for typical errors characterized by high or low tension, respectively.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob A. Herman ◽  
Matthew P. Miller ◽  
Sue Biggins

AbstractAccurate chromosome segregation requires kinetochores on duplicated chromatids to biorient by attaching to dynamic microtubules from opposite spindle poles, which exerts forces to bring kinetochores under tension. However, kinetochores initially bind to MTs indiscriminately, resulting in errors that must be corrected. While the Aurora B protein kinase destabilizes low-tension attachments by phosphorylating kinetochores, low-tension attachments are intrinsically less stable than those under higher tension in vitro independent of Aurora activity. Intrinsic tensionsensitive behavior requires the microtubule regulator Stu2 (budding yeast Dis1/XMAP215 ortholog), which we demonstrate here is likely a conserved function for the TOG protein family. The human TOG protein, chTOG, localizes to kinetochores independent of microtubules by interacting with Hec1. We identify a chTOG mutant that regulates microtubule dynamics but accumulates erroneous kinetochore-microtubule attachments that Aurora B fails to destabilize. Thus, TOG proteins confer a unique, intrinsic error correction activity to kinetochores that ensures accurate chromosome segregation.


eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob A Herman ◽  
Matthew P Miller ◽  
Sue Biggins

Accurate chromosome segregation requires kinetochores on duplicated chromatids to biorient by attaching to dynamic microtubules from opposite spindle poles, which exerts forces to bring kinetochores under tension. However, kinetochores initially bind to microtubules indiscriminately, resulting in errors that must be corrected. While the Aurora B protein kinase destabilizes low-tension attachments by phosphorylating kinetochores, low-tension attachments are intrinsically less stable than those under higher tension in vitro independent of Aurora activity. Intrinsic tension-sensitive behavior requires the microtubule regulator Stu2 (budding yeast Dis1/XMAP215 ortholog), which we demonstrate here is likely a conserved function for the TOG protein family. The human TOG protein, chTOG, localizes to kinetochores independent of microtubules by interacting with Hec1. We identify a chTOG mutant that regulates microtubule dynamics but accumulates erroneous kinetochore-microtubule attachments that are not destabilized by Aurora B. Thus, TOG proteins confer a unique, intrinsic error correction activity to kinetochores that ensures accurate chromosome segregation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 218 (10) ◽  
pp. 3223-3236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichiro Asai ◽  
Koh Fukuchi ◽  
Yuji Tanno ◽  
Saki Koitabashi-Kiyozuka ◽  
Tatsuyuki Kiyozuka ◽  
...  

The accurate regulation of phosphorylation at the kinetochore is essential for establishing chromosome bi-orientation. Phosphorylation of kinetochore proteins by the Aurora B kinase destabilizes improper kinetochore–microtubule attachments, whereas the phosphatase PP2A has a counteracting role. Imbalanced phosphoregulation leads to error-prone chromosome segregation and aneuploidy, a hallmark of cancer cells. However, little is known about the molecular events that control the balance of phosphorylation at the kinetochore. Here, we show that localization of SET/TAF1, an oncogene product, to centromeres maintains Aurora B kinase activity by inhibiting PP2A, thereby correcting erroneous kinetochore–microtubule attachment. SET localizes at the inner centromere by interacting directly with shugoshin 2, with SET levels declining at increased distances between kinetochore pairs, leading to establishment of chromosome bi-orientation. Moreover, SET overexpression induces chromosomal instability by disrupting kinetochore–microtubule attachment. Thus, our findings reveal the novel role of SET in fine-tuning the phosphorylation level at the kinetochore by balancing the activities of Aurora B and PP2A.


2011 ◽  
Vol 193 (6) ◽  
pp. 1049-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin M. Ricke ◽  
Karthik B. Jeganathan ◽  
Jan M. van Deursen

High expression of the protein kinase Bub1 has been observed in a variety of human tumors and often correlates with poor clinical prognosis, but its molecular and cellular consequences and role in tumorigenesis are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that overexpression of Bub1 in mice leads to near-diploid aneuploidies and tumor formation. We found that chromosome misalignment and lagging are the primary mitotic errors responsible for the observed aneuploidization. High Bub1 levels resulted in aberrant Bub1 kinase activity and hyperactivation of Aurora B kinase. When Aurora B activity is suppressed, pharmacologically or via BubR1 overexpression, chromosome segregation errors caused by Bub1 overexpression are largely corrected. Importantly, Bub1 transgenic mice overexpressing Bub1 developed various kinds of spontaneous tumors and showed accelerated Myc-induced lymphomagenesis. Our results establish that Bub1 has oncogenic properties and suggest that Aurora B is a critical target through which overexpressed Bub1 drives aneuploidization and tumorigenesis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 161 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alper Romano ◽  
Annika Guse ◽  
Ivica Krascenicova ◽  
Heinke Schnabel ◽  
Ralf Schnabel ◽  
...  

The Aurora B kinase complex is a critical regulator of chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. In Caenorhabditis elegans, AIR-2 (Aurora B) function requires ICP-1 (Incenp) and BIR-1 (Survivin). In various systems, Aurora B binds to orthologues of these proteins. Through genetic analysis, we have identified a new subunit of the Aurora B kinase complex, CSC-1. C. elegans embryos depleted of CSC-1, AIR-2, ICP-1, or BIR-1 have identical phenotypes. CSC-1, BIR-1, and ICP-1 are interdependent for their localization, and all are required for AIR-2 localization. In vitro, CSC-1 binds directly to BIR-1. The CSC-1/BIR-1 complex, but not the individual subunits, associates with ICP-1. CSC-1 associates with ICP-1, BIR-1, and AIR-2 in vivo. ICP-1 dramatically stimulates AIR-2 kinase activity. This activity is not stimulated by CSC-1/BIR-1, suggesting that these two subunits function as targeting subunits for AIR-2 kinase.


2011 ◽  
Vol 195 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Petsalaki ◽  
Tonia Akoumianaki ◽  
Elizabeth J. Black ◽  
David A.F. Gillespie ◽  
George Zachos

Aurora B kinase activity is required for successful cell division. In this paper, we show that Aurora B is phosphorylated at serine 331 (Ser331) during mitosis and that phosphorylated Aurora B localizes to kinetochores in prometaphase cells. Chk1 kinase is essential for Ser331 phosphorylation during unperturbed prometaphase or during spindle disruption by taxol but not nocodazole. Phosphorylation at Ser331 is required for optimal phosphorylation of INCENP at TSS residues, for Survivin association with the chromosomal passenger complex, and for complete Aurora B activation, but it is dispensable for Aurora B localization to centromeres, for autophosphorylation at threonine 232, and for association with INCENP. Overexpression of Aurora BS331A, in which Ser331 is mutated to alanine, results in spontaneous chromosome missegregation, cell multinucleation, unstable binding of BubR1 to kinetochores, and impaired mitotic delay in the presence of taxol. We propose that Chk1 phosphorylates Aurora B at Ser331 to fully induce Aurora B kinase activity. These results indicate that phosphorylation at Ser331 is an essential mechanism for Aurora B activation.


2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 3325-3341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reiko Honda ◽  
Roman Körner ◽  
Erich A. Nigg

The function of the Aurora B kinase at centromeres and the central spindle is crucial for chromosome segregation and cytokinesis, respectively. Herein, we have investigated the regulation of human Aurora B by its complex partners inner centromere protein (INCENP) and survivin. We found that overexpression of a catalytically inactive, dominant-negative mutant of Aurora B impaired the localization of the entire Aurora B/INCENP/survivin complex to centromeres and the central spindle and severely disturbed mitotic progression. Similar results were also observed after depletion, by RNA interference, of either Aurora B, INCENP, or survivin. These data suggest that Aurora B kinase activity and the formation of the Aurora B/INCENP/survivin complex both contribute to its proper localization. Using recombinant proteins, we found that Aurora B kinase activity was stimulated by INCENP and that the C-terminal region of INCENP was sufficient for activation. Under identical assay conditions, survivin did not detectably influence kinase activity. Human INCENP was a substrate of Aurora B and mass spectrometry identified three consecutive residues (threonine 893, serine 894, and serine 895) containing at least two phosphorylation sites. A nonphosphorylatable mutant (TSS893–895AAA) was a poor activator of Aurora B, demonstrating that INCENP phosphorylation is important for kinase activation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 3064-3077 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret A. Bolton ◽  
Weijie Lan ◽  
Shannon E. Powers ◽  
Mark L. McCleland ◽  
Jian Kuang ◽  
...  

Aurora B regulates chromosome segregation and cytokinesis and is the first protein to be implicated as a regulator of bipolar attachment of spindle microtubules to kinetochores. Evidence from several systems suggests that Aurora B is physically associated with inner centromere protein (INCENP) in mitosis and has genetic interactions with Survivin. It is unclear whether the Aurora B and INCENP interaction is cell cycle regulated and if Survivin physically interacts in this complex. In this study, we cloned theXenopus Survivin gene, examined its association with Aurora B and INCENP, and determined the effect of its binding on Aurora B kinase activity. We demonstrate that in the Xenopusearly embryo, all of the detectable Survivin is in a complex with both Aurora B and INCENP throughout the cell cycle. Survivin and Aurora B bind different domains on INCENP. Aurora B activity is stimulated >10-fold in mitotic extracts; this activation is phosphatase sensitive, and the binding of Survivin is required for full Aurora B activity. We also find the hydrodynamic properties of the Aurora B/Survivin/INCENP complex are cell cycle regulated. Our data indicate that Aurora B kinase activity is regulated by both Survivin binding and cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harinath Doodhi ◽  
Taciana Kasciukovic ◽  
Lesley Clayton ◽  
Tomoyuki U. Tanaka

AbstractFor proper chromosome segregation, sister kinetochores must interact with microtubules from opposite spindle poles; this is called bi-orientation. To establish bi-orientation prior to chromosome segregation, any aberrant kinetochore–microtubule interaction must be resolved (error correction) by Aurora B kinase that phosphorylates outer kinetochore components. Aurora B differentially regulates kinetochore attachment to the microtubule plus end and its lateral side (end-on and lateral attachment, respectively). However, it is still not fully understood how kinetochore–microtubule interactions are exchanged during error correction. Here we reconstituted the kinetochore–microtubule interface of budding yeast in vitro by attaching the Ndc80 complexes (Ndc80C) to nanobeads. These Ndc80C–nanobeads recapitulated in vitro the lateral and end-on attachments of authentic kinetochores, on dynamic microtubules loaded with the Dam1 complex. This in vitro assay enabled the direct comparison of lateral and end-on attachment strength and showed that Dam1 phosphorylation by Aurora B makes the end-on attachment weaker than the lateral attachment. We suggest that the Dam1 phosphorylation weakens interaction with the Ndc80 complex, disrupts the end-on attachment and promotes the exchange to a new lateral attachment, leading to error correction. Our study reveals a fundamental mechanism of error correction for establishment of bi-orientation.


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