scholarly journals Kinetochores respond to subtle changes in the stability of microtubule attachments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica D. Warren ◽  
Sarah Y. Valles ◽  
Duane A. Compton

AbstractProper attachment of spindle microtubules to kinetochores is necessary to satisfy the spindle assembly checkpoint and ensure faithful chromosome segregation. Microtubules detach from kinetochores to correct improperly oriented attachments, and overall kinetochore-microtubule (k-MT) attachment stability is determined in response to regulatory enzymes and the activities of kinetochore-associated microtubule stabilizing and destabilizing proteins. However, it is unknown whether regulatory enzyme activity or kinetochore-associated protein localization respond to subtle changes in k-MT attachment stability. To test for this feedback response, we monitored Aurora B kinase activity and the localization of select kinetochore proteins in metaphase cells following treatments that subtly stabilize or destabilize k-MT attachments using low dose Taxol or UMK57 (an MCAK agonist), respectively. Increasing k-MT stability induced changes in the abundance of some kinetochore proteins. In contrast, reducing k-MT stability induced both increases in Aurora B kinase signaling and changes in the abundance of some kinetochore proteins. Thus, kinetochores dynamically respond to changes in the stability of their attached microtubules. This feedback control contributes to tuning k-MT attachment stability required for efficient error correction to facilitate faithful chromosome segregation.Summary StatementLive cell imaging demonstrates that kinetochore signaling responds to feedback from attached microtubules to tune their stability to ensure faithful chromosome segregation during cell division.

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda J. Broad ◽  
Jennifer G. DeLuca

Abstract The fidelity of chromosome segregation during mitosis is intimately linked to the function of kinetochores, which are large protein complexes assembled at sites of centromeric heterochromatin on mitotic chromosomes. These key “orchestrators” of mitosis physically connect chromosomes to spindle microtubules and transduce forces through these connections to congress chromosomes and silence the spindle assembly checkpoint. Kinetochore-microtubule attachments are highly regulated to ensure that incorrect attachments are not prematurely stabilized, but instead released and corrected. The kinase activity of the centromeric protein Aurora B is required for kinetochore-microtubule destabilization during mitosis, but how the kinase acts on outer kinetochore substrates to selectively destabilize immature and erroneous attachments remains debated. Here, we review recent literature that sheds light on how Aurora B kinase is recruited to both centromeres and kinetochores and discuss possible mechanisms for how kinase interactions with substrates at distinct regions of mitotic chromosomes are regulated.


2019 ◽  
Vol 219 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cai Liang ◽  
Zhenlei Zhang ◽  
Qinfu Chen ◽  
Haiyan Yan ◽  
Miao Zhang ◽  
...  

Aurora B kinase plays an essential role in chromosome bi-orientation, which is a prerequisite for equal segregation of chromosomes during mitosis. However, it remains largely unclear whether centromere-localized Aurora B is required for faithful chromosome segregation. Here we show that histone H3 Thr-3 phosphorylation (H3pT3) and H2A Thr-120 phosphorylation (H2ApT120) can independently recruit Aurora B. Disrupting H3pT3-mediated localization of Aurora B at the inner centromere impedes the decline in H2ApT120 during metaphase and causes H2ApT120-dependent accumulation of Aurora B at the kinetochore-proximal centromere. Consequently, silencing of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is delayed, whereas the fidelity of chromosome segregation is negligibly affected. Further eliminating an H2ApT120-dependent pool of Aurora B restores proper timing for SAC silencing but increases chromosome missegregation. Our data indicate that H2ApT120-mediated localization of Aurora B compensates for the loss of an H3pT3-dependent pool of Aurora B to correct improper kinetochore–microtubule attachments. This study provides important insights into how centromeric Aurora B regulates SAC and kinetochore attachment to microtubules to ensure error-free chromosome segregation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (50) ◽  
pp. E10667-E10676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Zhou ◽  
Fan Zheng ◽  
Chengliang Wang ◽  
Minhao Wu ◽  
Xiaozhen Zhang ◽  
...  

Kinetochores are superprotein complexes that orchestrate chromosome segregation via a dynamic interaction with spindle microtubules. A physical connection between CENP-C and the Mis12–Ndc80–Knl1 (KMN) protein network is an important pathway that is used to assemble kinetochores on CENP-A nucleosomes. Multiple outer kinetochore components are phosphorylated by Aurora B kinase to activate the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) and to ensure accurate chromosome segregation. However, it is unknown whether Aurora B can phosphorylate inner kinetochore components to facilitate proper mitotic chromosome segregation. Here, we reported the structure of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe Mis12–Nnf1 complex and showed that N-terminal residues 26–50 in Cnp3 (the CENP-C homolog of S. pombe) are responsible for interacting with the Mis12 complex. Interestingly, Thr28 of Cnp3 is a substrate of Ark1 (the Aurora B homolog of S. pombe), and phosphorylation impairs the interaction between the Cnp3 and Mis12 complex. The expression of a phosphorylation-mimicking Cnp3 mutant results in defective chromosome segregation due to improper kinetochore assembly. These results establish a previously uncharacterized regulatory mechanism involved in CENP-C–Mis12-facilitated kinetochore attachment error correction to ensure accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis.


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.


2010 ◽  
Vol 188 (6) ◽  
pp. 809-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Liu ◽  
Mathijs Vleugel ◽  
Chelsea B. Backer ◽  
Tetsuya Hori ◽  
Tatsuo Fukagawa ◽  
...  

Regulated interactions between kinetochores and spindle microtubules are essential to maintain genomic stability during chromosome segregation. The Aurora B kinase phosphorylates kinetochore substrates to destabilize kinetochore–microtubule interactions and eliminate incorrect attachments. These substrates must be dephosphorylated to stabilize correct attachments, but how opposing kinase and phosphatase activities are coordinated at the kinetochore is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a conserved motif in the kinetochore protein KNL1 directly interacts with and targets protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) to the outer kinetochore. PP1 recruitment by KNL1 is required to dephosphorylate Aurora B substrates at kinetochores and stabilize microtubule attachments. PP1 levels at kinetochores are regulated and inversely proportional to local Aurora B activity. Indeed, we demonstrate that phosphorylation of KNL1 by Aurora B disrupts the KNL1–PP1 interaction. In total, our results support a positive feedback mechanism by which Aurora B activity at kinetochores not only targets substrates directly, but also prevents localization of the opposing phosphatase.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisela Cairo ◽  
Anne M. MacKenzie ◽  
Soni Lacefield

AbstractAccurate chromosome segregation depends on proper attachment of kinetochores to spindle microtubules prior to anaphase onset. The Ipl1/Aurora B kinase corrects improper attachments by phosphorylating kinetochore components and so releasing aberrant kinetochore-microtubule interactions. The localization of Ipl1 to kinetochores in budding yeast depends upon multiple pathways, including the Bub1/Bub3 pathway. We show here that in meiosis, Bub3 is crucial for correction of attachment errors. Depletion of Bub3 results in reduced levels of kinetochore-localized Ipl1, and concomitant massive chromosome mis-segregation caused by incorrect chromosome-spindle attachments. Depletion of Bub3 also results in shorter metaphase I and metaphase II due to premature localization of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) to kinetochores, which antagonizes Ipl1-mediated phosphorylation. We propose a new role for the Bub1-Bub3 pathway in maintaining the balance between kinetochore-localization of Ipl1 and PP1, a balance that is essential for accurate meiotic chromosome segregation and timely anaphase onset.SummaryCairo et al show that in S. cerevisiae meiosis, spindle checkpoint proteins Bub1 and Bub3 have an essential role in preventing chromosome mis-segregation and setting the normal duration of anaphase I and anaphase II onset by regulating the kinetochore-localization of Ipl1 and PP1.


2020 ◽  
Vol 219 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisela Cairo ◽  
Anne M. MacKenzie ◽  
Soni Lacefield

Accurate chromosome segregation depends on the proper attachment of kinetochores to spindle microtubules before anaphase onset. The Ipl1/Aurora B kinase corrects improper attachments by phosphorylating kinetochore components and so releasing aberrant kinetochore–microtubule interactions. The localization of Ipl1 to kinetochores in budding yeast depends upon multiple pathways, including the Bub1–Bub3 pathway. We show here that in meiosis, Bub3 is crucial for correction of attachment errors. Depletion of Bub3 results in reduced levels of kinetochore-localized Ipl1 and concomitant massive chromosome missegregation caused by incorrect chromosome–spindle attachments. Depletion of Bub3 also results in shorter metaphase I and metaphase II due to premature localization of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) to kinetochores, which antagonizes Ipl1-mediated phosphorylation. We propose a new role for the Bub1–Bub3 pathway in maintaining the balance between kinetochore localization of Ipl1 and PP1, a balance that is essential for accurate meiotic chromosome segregation and timely anaphase onset.


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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 1761-1765 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Meadows

Correct transmission of genetic information from mother to daughter cells is necessary for development and survival. Accurate segregation is achieved by bipolar attachment of sister kinetochores in each chromatid pair to spindle microtubules emanating from opposite spindle poles, a process known as chromosome bi-orientation. Achieving this requires dynamic interplay between kinetochore proteins, kinesin motor proteins and cell cycle regulators. Chromosome bi-orientation is monitored by a surveillance mechanism known as the SAC (spindle assembly checkpoint). The Aurora B kinase, which is bound to the inner centromere during early mitosis, plays a central role in both chromosome bi-orientation and the spindle checkpoint. The application of tension across centromeres establishes a spatial gradient of high phosphorylation activity at the inner centromere and low phosphorylation activity at the outer kinetochore. This gradient is further refined by the association of PP1 (protein phosphatase 1) to the outer kinetochore, which stabilizes kinetochore–microtubule interactions and silences the spindle checkpoint by dephosphorylating Aurora B kinase targets when chromosome bi-orientation is achieved. In the present review, I discuss emerging evidence that bidirectional cross-talk between mitotic kinesins and the Aurora kinase–PP1 axis is crucial for co-ordinating chromosome bi-orientation and spindle checkpoint signalling in eukaryotes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (18) ◽  
pp. 2201-2212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily L. Petty ◽  
Masha Evpak ◽  
Lorraine Pillus

Multiple interdependent mechanisms ensure faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell division. Among these, the spindle assembly checkpoint monitors attachment of spindle microtubules to the centromere of each chromosome, whereas the tension-sensing checkpoint monitors the opposing forces between sister chromatid centromeres for proper biorientation. We report here a new function for the deeply conserved Gcn5 acetyltransferase in the centromeric localization of Rts1, a key player in the tension-sensing checkpoint. Rts1 is a regulatory component of protein phopshatase 2A, a near universal phosphatase complex, which is recruited to centromeres by the Shugoshin (Sgo) checkpoint component under low-tension conditions to maintain sister chromatid cohesion. We report that loss of Gcn5 disrupts centromeric localization of Rts1. Increased RTS1 dosage robustly suppresses gcn5∆ cell cycle and chromosome segregation defects, including restoration of Rts1 to centromeres. Sgo1’s Rts1-binding function also plays a key role in RTS1 dosage suppression of gcn5∆ phenotypes. Notably, we have identified residues of the centromere histone H3 variant Cse4 that function in these chromosome segregation-related roles of RTS1. Together, these findings expand the understanding of the mechanistic roles of Gcn5 and Cse4 in chromosome segregation.


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