scholarly journals Maize (Zea mays L.) nucleoskeletal proteins regulate nuclear envelope remodeling and function in stomatal complex development and pollen viability.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF McKenna ◽  
HK Gumber ◽  
ZM Turpin ◽  
AM Jalovec ◽  
AC Kartick ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIn eukaryotes, the nuclear envelope (NE) encloses chromatin and separates it from the rest of the cell. The Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex physically bridges across the NE, linking nuclear and cytoplasmic components. In plants, these LINC complexes are beginning to be ascribed roles in cellular and nuclear functions, including chromatin organization, regulation of nuclei shape and movement, and cell division. Homologs of core LINC components, KASH and SUN proteins, have previously been identified in maize. Here, we characterized the presumed LINC-associated maize nucleoskeletal proteins NCH1 and NCH2, homologs of members of the plant NMCP/CRWN family, and MKAKU41, homologous to AtKAKU4. All three proteins localized to the nuclear periphery when transiently and heterologously expressed as fluorescent protein fusions in Nicotiana benthamiana. Overexpression of MKAKU41 caused dramatic changes in the organization of the nuclear periphery, including nuclear invaginations that stained positive for non-nucleoplasmic markers of the inner and outer NE, and the ER. The severity of these invaginations was altered by changes in LINC connections and the actin cytoskeleton. In maize, MKAKU41 appeared to share genetic functions with other LINC components, including control of nuclei shape, stomatal complex development, and pollen viability. Overall, our data show that NCH1, NCH2, and MKAKU41 have characteristic properties of LINC-associated plant nucleoskeletal proteins, including interactions with NE components suggestive of functions at the nuclear periphery that impact the overall nuclear architecture.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph F. McKenna ◽  
Hardeep K. Gumber ◽  
Zachary M. Turpin ◽  
Alexis M. Jalovec ◽  
Andre C. Kartick ◽  
...  

In eukaryotes, the nuclear envelope (NE) encloses chromatin and separates it from the rest of the cell. The Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex physically bridges across the NE, linking nuclear and cytoplasmic components. In plants, these LINC complexes are beginning to be ascribed roles in cellular and nuclear functions, including chromatin organization, regulation of nuclei shape and movement, and cell division. Homologs of core LINC components, KASH and SUN proteins, have previously been identified in maize. Here, we characterized the presumed LINC-associated maize nucleoskeletal proteins NCH1 and NCH2, homologous to members of the plant NMCP/CRWN family, and MKAKU41, homologous to AtKAKU4. All three proteins localized to the nuclear periphery when transiently and heterologously expressed as fluorescent protein fusions in Nicotiana benthamiana. Overexpression of MKAKU41 caused dramatic changes in the organization of the nuclear periphery, including nuclear invaginations that stained positive for non-nucleoplasmic markers of the inner and outer NE membranes, and the ER. The severity of these invaginations was altered by changes in LINC connections and the actin cytoskeleton. In maize, MKAKU41 appeared to share genetic functions with other LINC components, including control of nuclei shape, stomatal complex development, and pollen viability. Overall, our data show that NCH1, NCH2, and MKAKU41 have characteristic properties of LINC-associated plant nucleoskeletal proteins, including interactions with NE components suggestive of functions at the nuclear periphery that impact the overall nuclear architecture.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hardeep K. Gumber ◽  
Joseph F. McKenna ◽  
Andrea F. Tolmie ◽  
Alexis M. Jalovec ◽  
Andre C. Kartick ◽  
...  

AbstractThe linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex is an essential multi-protein structure spanning the eukaryotic nuclear envelope. The LINC complex functions to maintain nuclear architecture, positioning, and mobility, along with specialized functions in meiotic prophase and chromosome segregation. Members of the LINC complex were recently identified in maize, an important scientific and agricultural grass species. Here we characterized Maize LINC KASH AtSINE-like2, MLKS2, which encodes a highly conserved SINE-group plant KASH protein with characteristic N-terminal armadillo repeats (ARM). Using a heterologous expression system, we showed that actively expressed GFP-MLKS2 is targeted to the nuclear periphery and colocalizes with F-actin and the endoplasmic reticulum, but not microtubules in the cell cortex. Expression of GFP-MLKS2, but not GFP-MLKS2ΔARM, resulted in nuclear anchoring. Genetic analysis of transposon-insertion mutations, mlks2-1 and mlks2-2, showed that the mutant phenotypes were pleiotropic, affecting root hair nuclear morphology, stomatal complex development, multiple aspects of meiosis, and pollen viability. In male meiosis, the mutants showed defects for bouquet-stage telomere clustering, nuclear repositioning, perinuclear actin accumulation, dispersal of late prophase bivalents, and meiotic chromosome segregation. These findings support a model in which the nucleus is connected to cytoskeletal F-actin through the ARM-domain, predicted alpha solenoid structure of MLKS2. Functional conservation of MLKS2 was demonstrated through genetic rescue of the misshapen nuclear phenotype of an Arabidopsis (triple-WIP) KASH mutant. This study establishes a role for the SINE-type KASH proteins in affecting the dynamic nuclear phenomena required for normal plant growth and fertility.


2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 891-903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler P. Molitor ◽  
Paula Traktman

Barrier to autointegration factor (BAF), which is encoded by the BANF1 gene, binds with high-affinity to double-stranded DNA and LEM domain–containing proteins at the nuclear periphery. A BANF1 mutation has recently been associated with a novel human progeria syndrome, and cells from these patients have aberrant nuclear envelopes. The interactions of BAF with its DNA- and protein-binding partners are known to be regulated by phosphorylation, and previously we validated BAF as a highly efficient substrate for the VRK1 protein kinase. Here we show that depletion of VRK1 in MCF10a and MDA-MB-231 cells results in aberrant nuclear architecture. The immobile fraction of green fluorescent protein (GFP)–BAF at the nuclear envelope (NE) is elevated, suggesting that prolonged interactions of BAF with its binding partners is likely responsible for the aberrant NE architecture. Because detachment of BAF from its binding partners is associated with NE disassembly, we performed live-imaging analysis of control and VRK1-depleted cells to visualize GFP-BAF dynamics during mitosis. In the absence of VRK1, BAF does not disperse but instead remains chromosome bound from the onset of mitosis. VRK1 depletion also increases the number of anaphase bridges and multipolar spindles. Thus phosphorylation of BAF by VRK1 is essential both for normal NE architecture and proper dynamics of BAF–chromosome interactions during mitosis. These results are consistent with previous studies of the VRK/BAF signaling axis in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster and validate VRK1 as a key regulator of NE architecture and mitotic chromosome dynamics in mammalian cells.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hardeep K. Gumber ◽  
Joseph F. McKenna ◽  
Amado L. Estrada ◽  
Andrea F. Tolmie ◽  
Katja Graumann ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe LINC (Linker of Nucleoskeleton to Cytoskeleton) complex is an essential multi-protein structure spanning the nuclear envelope. It connects the cytoplasm to the nucleoplasm, functions to maintain nuclear shape and architecture, and regulates chromosome dynamics during cell division. Knowledge of LINC complex composition and function in the plant kingdom is primarily limited to Arabidopsis, but critically missing from the evolutionarily distant monocots which include grasses, the most important agronomic crops worldwide. To fill this knowledge gap, we identified and characterized 22 maize genes, including a new grass-specific KASH gene family. Using bioinformatic, biochemical, and cell biological approaches, we provide evidence that representative KASH candidates localize to the nuclear periphery and interact with ZmSUN2 in vivo. FRAP experiments using domain-deletion constructs verified that this SUN-KASH interaction was dependent on the SUN but not the coiled-coil domain of ZmSUN2. A summary working model is proposed for the entire maize LINC complex encoded by conserved and divergent gene families. These findings expand our knowledge of the plant nuclear envelope in a model grass species, with implications for both basic and applied cellular research.SUMMARY STATEMENTGenes encoding maize candidates for the core LINC and associated complex proteins have been comprehensively identified with functional validation by one or more assays for several of the KASH genes.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 658
Author(s):  
Francesco Manfrevola ◽  
Florian Guillou ◽  
Silvia Fasano ◽  
Riccardo Pierantoni ◽  
Rosanna Chianese

Nuclear architecture undergoes an extensive remodeling during spermatogenesis, especially at levels of spermatocytes (SPC) and spermatids (SPT). Interestingly, typical events of spermiogenesis, such as nuclear elongation, acrosome biogenesis, and flagellum formation, need a functional cooperation between proteins of the nuclear envelope and acroplaxome/manchette structures. In addition, nuclear envelope plays a key role in chromosome distribution. In this scenario, special attention has been focused on the LINC (linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) complex, a nuclear envelope-bridge structure involved in the connection of the nucleoskeleton to the cytoskeleton, governing mechanotransduction. It includes two integral proteins: KASH- and SUN-domain proteins, on the outer (ONM) and inner (INM) nuclear membrane, respectively. The LINC complex is involved in several functions fundamental to the correct development of sperm cells such as head formation and head to tail connection, and, therefore, it seems to be important in determining male fertility. This review provides a global overview of the main LINC complex components, with a special attention to their subcellular localization in sperm cells, their roles in the regulation of sperm morphological maturation, and, lastly, LINC complex alterations associated to male infertility.


2020 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Heffler ◽  
Parisha P. Shah ◽  
Patrick Robison ◽  
Sai Phyo ◽  
Kimberly Veliz ◽  
...  

Rationale: Mechanical forces are transduced to nuclear responses via the linkers of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex, which couples the cytoskeleton to the nuclear lamina and associated chromatin. While disruption of the LINC complex can cause cardiomyopathy, the relevant interactions that bridge the nucleoskeleton to cytoskeleton are poorly understood in the cardiomyocyte, where cytoskeletal organization is unique. Furthermore, while microtubules and desmin intermediate filaments associate closely with cardiomyocyte nuclei, the importance of these interactions is unknown. Objective: Here, we sought to determine how cytoskeletal interactions with the LINC complex regulate nuclear homeostasis in the cardiomyocyte. Methods and Results: To this end, we acutely disrupted the LINC complex, microtubules, actin, and intermediate filaments and assessed the consequences on nuclear morphology and genome organization in rat ventricular cardiomyocytes via a combination of super-resolution imaging, biophysical, and genomic approaches. We find that a balance of dynamic microtubules and desmin intermediate filaments is required to maintain nuclear shape and the fidelity of the nuclear envelope and lamina. Upon depletion of desmin (or nesprin [nuclear envelope spectrin repeat protein]-3, its binding partner in the LINC complex), polymerizing microtubules collapse the nucleus and drive infolding of the nuclear membrane. This results in DNA damage, a loss of genome organization, and broad transcriptional changes. The collapse in nuclear integrity is concomitant with compromised contractile function and may contribute to the pathophysiological changes observed in desmin-related myopathies. Conclusions: Disrupting the tethering of desmin to the nucleus results in a loss of nuclear homeostasis and rapid alterations to cardiomyocyte function. Our data suggest that a balance of forces imposed by intermediate filaments and microtubules is required to maintain nuclear structure and genome organization in the cardiomyocyte.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. B. D. Prasada Rao ◽  
Takeshi Sato ◽  
Kiran Challa ◽  
Miki Shinohara ◽  
Akira Shinohara

SummaryDuring meiosis, protein ensembles in the nuclear envelope (NE) containing SUN- and KASH-domain proteins, called linker nucleocytoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex, promote chromosome motion. How LINC complexes acquire the meiotic property is largely unknown. Here we showed that cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK) and Dbf4-dependent Cdc7 protein kinase (DDK) promote proper meiosis-specific localization of yeast SUN-domain protein Mps3 on NE and control force-dependent movement of chromosomes during meiosis. We also found a NE luminal region of Mps3 juxtaposed to inner nuclear membrane (INM) is required for meiosis-specific localization of Mps3 on NE. Negative charges introduced by meiosis-specific non-canonical phosphorylation of the luminal region of Mps3 changes its interaction with INM, which may induce NE localization by promoting the formation of a canonical LINC complex with Mps3. Our study reveals unique phosphorylation-dependent regulation on the localization and function of Mps3 protein in meiotic NE remodeling.


Author(s):  
Larry Gerace ◽  
Ueli Aebi ◽  
Brian Burke ◽  
Frank Suprynowicz

The nuclear lamina is a protein meshwork that lines the nucleoplasmic surface of the nuclear envelope. In numerous higher eukaryotic cells, the lamina is known to contain a polymer of 1-3 major polypeptides (“lamins“) that form an insoluble supramolecular assembly during interphase. The lamina is thought to provide both a skeletal framework for the nuclear envelope (that regulates its disassembly and reformation during mitosis) and an anchoring site at the nuclear periphery for interphase chromosomes. Recent structural and functional studies on the nuclear lamina have yielded important new insight on its roles in nuclear architecture.Using electron microscopy, we found that the nuclear lamina of Xenopus oocytes is a meshwork of intermediate-sized (8-12 nm) filaments arranged in a near-tetragonal lattice having a spacing of 52 nm.


Cells ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Mattioli ◽  
Marta Columbaro ◽  
Mohammed Hakim Jafferali ◽  
Elisa Schena ◽  
Einar Hallberg ◽  
...  

LMNA linked-Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD2) is a rare disease characterized by muscle weakness, muscle wasting, and cardiomyopathy with conduction defects. The mutated protein lamin A/C binds several nuclear envelope components including the Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex and the inner nuclear membrane protein Samp1 (Spindle Associated Membrane Protein 1). Considering that Samp1 is upregulated during muscle cell differentiation and it is involved in nuclear movement, we hypothesized that it could be part of the protein platform formed by LINC proteins and prelamin A at the myotube nuclear envelope and, as previously demonstrated for those proteins, could be affected in EDMD2. Our results show that Samp1 is uniformly distributed at the nuclear periphery of normal human myotubes and committed myoblasts, but its anchorage at the nuclear poles is related to the presence of farnesylated prelamin A and it is disrupted by the loss of prelamin A farnesylation. Moreover, Samp1 is absent from the nuclear poles in EDMD2 myotubes, which shows that LMNA mutations associated with muscular dystrophy, due to reduced prelamin A levels in muscle cell nuclei, impair Samp1 anchorage. Conversely, SUN1 pathogenetic mutations do not alter Samp1 localization in myotubes, which suggests that Samp1 lies upstream of SUN1 in nuclear envelope protein complexes. The hypothesis that Samp1 is part of the protein platform that regulates microtubule nucleation from the myotube nuclear envelope in concert with pericentrin and LINC components warrants future investigation. As a whole, our data identify Samp1 as a new contributor to EDMD2 pathogenesis and our data are relevant to the understanding of nuclear clustering occurring in laminopathic muscle.


2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1072-1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura C. Titus ◽  
T. Renee Dawson ◽  
Deborah J. Rexer ◽  
Kathryn J. Ryan ◽  
Susan R. Wente

The assembly, distribution, and functional integrity of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) in the nuclear envelope (NE) are key determinants in the nuclear periphery architecture. However, the mechanisms controlling proper NPC and NE structure are not fully defined. We used two different genetic screening approaches to identify Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants with defects in NPC localization. The first approach examined green fluorescent protein (GFP)-Nic96 in 531 strains from the yeast Tet-promoters Hughes Collection with individual essential genes expressed from a doxycycline-regulated promoter (TetO7-orf). Under repressive conditions, depletion of the protein encoded by 44 TetO7-orf strains resulted in mislocalized GFP-Nic96. These included STH1, RSC4, RSC8, RSC9, RSC58, ARP7, and ARP9, each encoding components of the RSC chromatin remodeling complex. Second, a temperature-sensitive sth1-F793S (npa18-1) mutant was identified in an independent genetic screen for NPC assembly (npa) mutants. NPC mislocalization in the RSC mutants required new protein synthesis and ongoing transcription, confirming that lack of global transcription did not underlie the phenotypes. Electron microscopy studies showed significantly altered NEs and nuclear morphology, with coincident cytoplasmic membrane sheet accumulation. Strikingly, increasing membrane fluidity with benzyl alcohol treatment prevented the sth1-F793S NE structural defects and NPC mislocalization. We speculate that NE structure is functionally linked to proper chromatin architecture.


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