scholarly journals Aurora kinase Ipl1 facilitates bilobed distribution of clustered kinetochores to ensure error-free chromosome segregation in Candida albicans

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Varshney ◽  
Kaustuv Sanyal
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Aurora Kinase ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Microtubule Dynamics ◽  
Aurora Kinase B ◽  
Spindle Pole Bodies ◽  
Candida Infections ◽  
Anti Fungal

Candida albicans, an ascomycete, has an ability to switch to diverse morphological forms. While C. albicans is predominatly diploid, it can tolerate aneuploidy as a survival strategy under stress. Aurora kinase B homolog Ipl1 is a critical ploidy regulator that controls microtubule dynamics and chromosome segregation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, we show that Ipl1 in C. albicans has a longer activation loop than that of the well-studied ascomycete S. cerevisiae. Ipl1 localizes to the kinetochores during the G1/S phase and associates with the spindle during mitosis. Ipl1 regulates cell morphogenesis and is required for cell viability. Ipl1 monitors microtubule dynamics which is mediated by separation of spindle pole bodies. While Ipl1 is dispensable for maintaining structural integrity and clustering of kinetochores in C. albicans, it is required for the maintenance of kinetochore geometry to form bilobed structures along the mitotic spindle, a feature of Ipl1 that was not observed in other yeasts. Depletion of Ipl1 results in erroneous kinetochore-microtubule attachments leading to aneuploidy-associated resistance to fluconazole, the most common anti-fungal drug used to treat Candida infections. Taking together, we suggest that Ipl1 spatiotemporally ensures kinetochore geometry to facilitate bipolar spindle assembly crucial for ploidy maintenance in C. albicans.

scholarly journals Evolution, Expression and Meiotic Behavior of Genes Involved in Chromosome Segregation of Monotremes

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1320
Author(s):  
Filip Pajpach ◽  
Linda Shearwin-Whyatt ◽  
Frank Grützner
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Sex Chromosome ◽  
Current Model ◽  
Aurora Kinase ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Aurora Kinase B ◽  
Specific Distribution ◽  
Mammalian Lineage ◽  
Chromosome Passenger Complex ◽  
Mitosis And Meiosis

Chromosome segregation at mitosis and meiosis is a highly dynamic and tightly regulated process that involves a large number of components. Due to the fundamental nature of chromosome segregation, many genes involved in this process are evolutionarily highly conserved, but duplications and functional diversification has occurred in various lineages. In order to better understand the evolution of genes involved in chromosome segregation in mammals, we analyzed some of the key components in the basal mammalian lineage of egg-laying mammals. The chromosome passenger complex is a multiprotein complex central to chromosome segregation during both mitosis and meiosis. It consists of survivin, borealin, inner centromere protein, and Aurora kinase B or C. We confirm the absence of Aurora kinase C in marsupials and show its absence in both platypus and echidna, which supports the current model of the evolution of Aurora kinases. High expression of AURKBC, an ancestor of AURKB and AURKC present in monotremes, suggests that this gene is performing all necessary meiotic functions in monotremes. Other genes of the chromosome passenger complex complex are present and conserved in monotremes, suggesting that their function has been preserved in mammals. Cohesins are another family of genes that are of vital importance for chromosome cohesion and segregation at mitosis and meiosis. Previous work has demonstrated an accumulation and differential loading of structural maintenance of chromosomes 3 (SMC3) on the platypus sex chromosome complex at meiotic prophase I. We investigated if a similar accumulation occurs in the echidna during meiosis I. In contrast to platypus, SMC3 was only found on the synaptonemal complex in echidna. This indicates that the specific distribution of SMC3 on the sex chromosome complex may have evolved specifically in platypus.

scholarly journals Aurora at the pole and equator: overlapping functions of Aurora kinases in the mitotic spindle

Open Biology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 120185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helfrid Hochegger ◽  
Nadia Hégarat ◽  
Jose B. Pereira-Leal
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Aurora Kinase ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Aurora A ◽  
Mitotic Progression ◽  
Aurora Kinases ◽  
Mitotic Kinases ◽  
Chromosome Alignment ◽  
Spindle Microtubules

The correct assembly and timely disassembly of the mitotic spindle is crucial for the propagation of the genome during cell division. Aurora kinases play a central role in orchestrating bipolar spindle establishment, chromosome alignment and segregation. In most eukaryotes, ranging from amoebas to humans, Aurora activity appears to be required both at the spindle pole and the kinetochore, and these activities are often split between two different Aurora paralogues, termed Aurora A and B. Polar and equatorial functions of Aurora kinases have generally been considered separately, with Aurora A being mostly involved in centrosome dynamics, whereas Aurora B coordinates kinetochore attachment and cytokinesis. However, double inactivation of both Aurora A and B results in a dramatic synergy that abolishes chromosome segregation. This suggests that these two activities jointly coordinate mitotic progression. Accordingly, recent evidence suggests that Aurora A and B work together in both spindle assembly in metaphase and disassembly in anaphase. Here, we provide an outlook on these shared functions of the Auroras, discuss the evolution of this family of mitotic kinases and speculate why Aurora kinase activity may be required at both ends of the spindle microtubules.

scholarly journals Loss of Kinesin-8 improves the robustness of the acentrosomal spindle

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Pineda-Santaella ◽  
Nazaret Fernández-Castillo ◽  
Ángela Sánchez-Gómez ◽  
Alfonso Fernández-Álvarez
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Female Meiosis ◽  
Aneuploidy Rate ◽  
Microtubule Organizing Centres ◽  
Spindle Pole Bodies ◽  
Nucleation Mechanisms ◽  
Yeast Meiosis

Chromosome segregation in female meiosis is inherently error-prone, among other reasons, because the acentrosomal spindle assembles and segregates chromosomes without the major microtubule-organizing centres in eukaryotes, the centrosomes, which causes high rate of aneuploidy. The molecular basis underlying formation of acentrosomal spindles is not as well-understood as that of centrosomal spindles and, consequently, strategies to improve spindle robustness are difficult to address. Recently, we noticed during fission yeast meiosis the formation of unexpected microtubules arrays, independent of the spindle pole bodies (yeast centrosome equivalent), with ability to segregate chromosomes. Here, we establish such microtubules formation as bonafide self-assembled spindles that depend on the canonical microtubule crosslinker Ase1/PRC1, share similar structural polarity and harbour the microtubule polymerase Alp14/XMAP215, while being independent of conventional γ-tubulin-mediated nucleation mechanisms. Remarkably, acentrosomal spindle robustness was reinforced by deletion of the Klp6/Kinesin-8, which, consequently, led to a reduced meiotic aneuploidy rate. Our results enlighten the molecular basis of acentrosomal meiosis, a crucial event in understanding gametogenesis.

scholarly journals Inactivation of Mitotic Kinase Triggers Translocation of MEN Components to Mother-Daughter Neck in Yeast

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 4734-4743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Hwa Lim ◽  
Foong May Yeong ◽  
Uttam Surana
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Spindle Pole Body ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Mitotic Exit ◽  
Mitotic Kinase ◽  
Division Site ◽  
Pole Body ◽  
Spindle Pole Bodies ◽  
Mitotic Exit Network ◽  
Mutant Cells

Chromosome segregation, mitotic exit, and cytokinesis are executed in this order during mitosis. Although a scheme coordinating sister chromatid separation and initiation of mitotic exit has been proposed, the mechanism that temporally links the onset of cytokinesis to mitotic exit is not known. Exit from mitosis is regulated by the mitotic exit network (MEN), which includes a GTPase (Tem1) and various kinases (Cdc15, Cdc5, Dbf2, and Dbf20). Here, we show that Dbf2 and Dbf20 functions are necessary for the execution of cytokinesis. Relocalization of these proteins from spindle pole bodies to mother daughter neck seems to be necessary for this role because cdc15-2 mutant cells, though capable of exiting mitosis at semipermissive temperature, are unable to localize Dbf2 (and Dbf20) to the “neck” and fail to undergo cytokinesis. These cells can assemble and constrict the actomyosin ring normally but are incapable of forming a septum, suggesting that MEN components are critical for the initiation of septum formation. Interestingly, the spindle pole body to neck translocation of Dbf2 and Dbf20 is triggered by the inactivation of mitotic kinase. The requirement of kinase inactivation for translocation of MEN components to the division site thus provides a mechanism that renders mitotic exit a prerequisite for cytokinesis.

scholarly journals The V260I Mutation in Fission Yeast α-Tubulin Atb2 Affects Microtubule Dynamics and EB1-Mal3 Localization and Activates the Bub1 Branch of the Spindle Checkpoint

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 1421-1435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhide Asakawa ◽  
Kazunori Kume ◽  
Muneyoshi Kanai ◽  
Tetsuya Goshima ◽  
Kohji Miyahara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Spindle Checkpoint ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Microtubule Dynamics ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Spindle Pole Bodies ◽  
Synthetically Lethal

We have identified a novel temperature-sensitive mutant of fission yeast α-tubulin Atb2 (atb2-983) that contains a single amino acid substitution (V260I). Atb2-983 is incorporated into the microtubules, and their overall structures are not altered noticeably, but microtubule dynamics is compromised during interphase. atb2-983 displays a high rate of chromosome missegregation and is synthetically lethal with deletions in a subset of spindle checkpoint genes including bub1, bub3, and mph1, but not with mad1, mad2, and mad3. During early mitosis in this mutant, Bub1, but not Mad2, remains for a prolonged period in the kinetochores that are situated in proximity to one of the two SPBs (spindle pole bodies). High dosage mal3+, encoding EB1 homologue, rescues atb2-983, suggesting that Mal3 function is compromised. Consistently, Mal3 localization and binding between Mal3 and Atb2-983 are impaired significantly, and a mal3 single mutant, such as atb2-983, displays prolonged Bub1 kinetochore localization. Furthermore in atb2-983 back-and-forth centromere oscillation during prometaphase is abolished. Intriguingly, this oscillation still occurs in the mal3 mutant, indicating that there is another defect independent of Mal3. These results show that microtubule dynamics is important for coordinated execution of mitotic events, in which Mal3 plays a vital role.

scholarly journals Haspin inhibition reveals functional differences of interchromatid axis–localized AURKB and AURKC

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (17) ◽  
pp. 2233-2240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne M. Quartuccio ◽  
Shweta S. Dipali ◽  
Karen Schindler
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ◽  
Aurora Kinase ◽  
Genetic Abnormality ◽  
Aurora Kinase B ◽  
Kinase C ◽  
Functional Differences ◽  
Chromosomal Passenger ◽  
Functional Capacities ◽  
Meiosis I

Aneuploidy is the leading genetic abnormality contributing to infertility, and chromosome segregation errors are common during female mammalian meiosis I (MI). Previous results indicate that haspin kinase regulates resumption of meiosis from prophase arrest, chromosome condensation, and kinetochore–microtubule attachments during early prometaphase of MI. Here we report that haspin inhibition in late prometaphase I causes acceleration of MI, bypass of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), and loss of interchromatid axis–localized Aurora kinase C. Meiotic cells contain a second chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) population, with Aurora kinase B (AURKB) bound to INCENP. Haspin inhibition in oocytes from Aurkc−/− mice, where AURKB is the sole CPC kinase, does not alter MI completion timing, and no change in localization of the SAC protein, MAD2, is observed. These data suggest that AURKB on the interchromatid axis is not needed for SAC activation and illustrate a key difference between the functional capacities of the two AURK homologues.

scholarly journals Candida albicans Kinesin Kar3 Depends on a Cik1-Like Regulatory Partner Protein for Its Roles in Mating, Cell Morphogenesis, and Bipolar Spindle Formation

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 755-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey Frazer ◽  
Monika Joshi ◽  
Caroline Delorme ◽  
Darlene Davis ◽  
Richard J. Bennett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Drug Target ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Antifungal Drug ◽  
Mitotic Progression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cycle Arrest ◽  
Spindle Pole Bodies ◽  
Monopolar Spindle ◽  
Spindle Structure

ABSTRACT Candida albicans is a major fungal pathogen whose virulence is associated with its ability to transition from a budding yeast form to invasive hyphal filaments. The kinesin-14 family member Ca Kar3 is required for transition between these morphological states, as well as for mitotic progression and karyogamy. While kinesin-14 proteins are ubiquitous, Ca Kar3 homologs in hemiascomycete fungi are unique because they form heterodimers with noncatalytic kinesin-like proteins. Thus, Ca Kar3-based motors may represent a novel antifungal drug target. We have identified and examined the roles of a kinesin-like regulator of Ca Kar3. We show that orf19.306 (dubbed CaCIK1 ) encodes a protein that forms a heterodimer with Ca Kar3, localizes Ca Kar3 to spindle pole bodies, and can bind microtubules and influence Ca Kar3 mechanochemistry despite lacking an ATPase activity of its own. Similar to Ca Kar3 depletion, loss of Ca Cik1 results in cell cycle arrest, filamentation defects, and an inability to undergo karyogamy. Furthermore, an examination of the spindle structure in cells lacking either of these proteins shows that a large proportion have a monopolar spindle or two dissociated half-spindles, a phenotype unique to the C. albicans kinesin-14 homolog. These findings provide new insights into mitotic spindle structure and kinesin motor function in C. albicans and identify a potentially vulnerable target for antifungal drug development.

scholarly journals Variance of ploidy in Candida albicans

1982 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 893-896
Author(s):  
T Suzuki ◽  
S Nishibayashi ◽  
T Kuroiwa ◽  
T Kanbe ◽  
K Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Uv Irradiation ◽  
Dna Content ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Nuclear Dna Content ◽  
Spindle Pole ◽  
Fluorescent Microscope ◽  
Spindle Pole Bodies

Determination of ploidy was performed on isolates of Candida albicans from clinical sources by measuring nuclear DNA content with fluorescent microscope photometry. By this criterion and UV irradiation survival experiments, haploid, diploid, and tetraploid strains were identified in this organism. The dimensions of nucleus-associated organelles (equivalent to spindle pole bodies) in these strains increased as a function of ploidy number.

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