scholarly journals Mitotic phosphorylation by NEK6 and NEK7 reduces the microtubule affinity of EML4 to promote chromosome congression

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (594) ◽  
pp. eaaw2939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rozita Adib ◽  
Jessica M. Montgomery ◽  
Joseph Atherton ◽  
Laura O’Regan ◽  
Mark W. Richards ◽  
...  

EML4 is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes microtubule stability. We investigated its regulation across the cell cycle and found that EML4 was distributed as punctate foci along the microtubule lattice in interphase but exhibited reduced association with spindle microtubules in mitosis. Microtubule sedimentation and cryo–electron microscopy with 3D reconstruction revealed that the basic N-terminal domain of EML4 mediated its binding to the acidic C-terminal tails of α- and β-tubulin on the microtubule surface. The mitotic kinases NEK6 and NEK7 phosphorylated the EML4 N-terminal domain at Ser144 and Ser146 in vitro, and depletion of these kinases in cells led to increased EML4 binding to microtubules in mitosis. An S144A-S146A double mutant not only bound inappropriately to mitotic microtubules but also increased their stability and interfered with chromosome congression. In addition, constitutive activation of NEK6 or NEK7 reduced the association of EML4 with interphase microtubules. Together, these data support a model in which NEK6- and NEK7-dependent phosphorylation promotes the dissociation of EML4 from microtubules in mitosis in a manner that is required for efficient chromosome congression.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rozita Adib ◽  
Jessica M. Montgomery ◽  
Joseph Atherton ◽  
Laura O’Regan ◽  
Mark W. Richards ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTEML4 is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes microtubule stability. We show here that EML4 is distributed as punctate foci along the microtubule lattice in interphase but exhibits reduced association with spindle microtubules in mitosis. Microtubule sedimentation and cryo-electron microscopy and 3D reconstruction reveal that EML4 binds via its basic N-terminal domain to the acidic C-terminal tails of α- and β-tubulin on the microtubule surface. The mitotic kinases Nek6 and Nek7 can phosphorylate EML4 N-terminal domain at S144 and S146 in vitro, and depletion of these kinases leads to increased EML4 binding to microtubules in mitosis. An S144A-S146A double mutant not only binds inappropriately to mitotic microtubules but also interferes with chromosome congression. Meanwhile, constitutive activation of Nek6 or Nek7 reduces EML4 association with interphase microtubules. Together, these data support a model in which Nek6 and Nek7-dependent phosphorylation promotes dissociation of EML4 from microtubules in mitosis thereby altering microtubule dynamics to enable chromosome congression.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara J. Mann ◽  
Sai K. Balchand ◽  
Patricia Wadsworth

Mitotic motor proteins generate force to establish and maintain spindle bipolarity, but how they are temporally and spatially regulated in vivo is unclear. Prior work demonstrated that a microtubule-associated protein, TPX2, targets kinesin-5 and kinesin-12 motors to spindle microtubules. The C-terminal domain of TPX2 contributes to the localization and motility of the kinesin-5, Eg5, but it is not known whether this domain regulates kinesin-12, Kif15. We found that the C-terminal domain of TPX2 contributes to the localization of Kif15 to spindle microtubules in cells and suppresses motor walking in vitro. Kif15 and Eg5 are partially redundant motors, and overexpressed Kif15 can drive spindle formation in the absence of Eg5 activity. Kif15-dependent bipolar spindle formation in vivo requires the C-terminal domain of TPX2. In the spindle, fluorescent puncta of GFP-Kif15 move toward the equatorial region at a rate equivalent to microtubule growth. Reduction of microtubule growth with paclitaxel suppresses GFP-Kif15 motility, demonstrating that dynamic microtubules contribute to Kif15 behavior. Our results show that the C-terminal region of TPX2 regulates Kif15 in vitro, contributes to motor localization in cells, and is required for Kif15 force generation in vivo and further reveal that dynamic microtubules contribute to Kif15 behavior in vivo.


2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 963-972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula M. Grissom ◽  
Thomas Fiedler ◽  
Ekaterina L. Grishchuk ◽  
Daniela Nicastro ◽  
Robert R. West ◽  
...  

Fission yeast expresses two kinesin-8s, previously identified and characterized as products of the klp5+ and klp6+ genes. These polypeptides colocalize throughout the vegetative cell cycle as they bind cytoplasmic microtubules during interphase, spindle microtubules, and/or kinetochores during early mitosis, and the interpolar spindle as it elongates in anaphase B. Here, we describe in vitro properties of these motor proteins and some truncated versions expressed in either bacteria or Sf9 cells. The motor-plus-neck domain of Klp6p formed soluble dimers that cross-linked microtubules and showed both microtubule-activated ATPase and plus-end–directed motor activities. Full-length Klp5p and Klp6p, coexpressed in Sf9 cells, formed soluble heterodimers with the same activities. The latter recombinant protein could also couple microbeads to the ends of shortening microtubules and use energy from tubulin depolymerization to pull a load in the minus end direction. These results, together with the spindle localizations of these proteins in vivo and their requirement for cell viability in the absence of the Dam1/DASH kinetochore complex, support the hypothesis that fission yeast kinesin-8 contributes both to chromosome congression to the metaphase plate and to the coupling of spindle microtubules to kinetochores during anaphase A.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhao ◽  
Alan Blayney ◽  
Xiaorong Liu ◽  
Lauren Gandy ◽  
Weihua Jin ◽  
...  

AbstractEpigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from green tea can induce apoptosis in cancerous cells, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using SPR and NMR, here we report a direct, μM interaction between EGCG and the tumor suppressor p53 (KD = 1.6 ± 1.4 μM), with the disordered N-terminal domain (NTD) identified as the major binding site (KD = 4 ± 2 μM). Large scale atomistic simulations (>100 μs), SAXS and AUC demonstrate that EGCG-NTD interaction is dynamic and EGCG causes the emergence of a subpopulation of compact bound conformations. The EGCG-p53 interaction disrupts p53 interaction with its regulatory E3 ligase MDM2 and inhibits ubiquitination of p53 by MDM2 in an in vitro ubiquitination assay, likely stabilizing p53 for anti-tumor activity. Our work provides insights into the mechanisms for EGCG’s anticancer activity and identifies p53 NTD as a target for cancer drug discovery through dynamic interactions with small molecules.


Zygote ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Zhen Jin ◽  
Hua-Feng Shou ◽  
Jin-Wei Liu ◽  
Shan-Shan Jiang ◽  
Yan Shen ◽  
...  

Abstract Microtubule-severing protein (MTSP) is critical for the survival of both mitotic and postmitotic cells. However, the study of MTSP during meiosis of mammalian oocytes has not been reported. We found that spastin, a member of the MTSP family, was highly expressed in oocytes and aggregated in spindle microtubules. After knocking down spastin by specific siRNA, the spindle microtubule density of meiotic oocytes decreased significantly. When the oocytes were cultured in vitro, the oocytes lacking spastin showed an obvious maturation disorder. Considering the microtubule-severing activity of spastin, we speculate that spastin on spindles may increase the number of microtubule broken ends by severing the microtubules, therefore playing a nucleating role, promoting spindle assembly and ensuring normal meiosis. In addition, we found the colocalization and interaction of collapsin response mediator protein 5 (CRMP5) and spastin in oocytes. CRMP5 can provide structural support and promote microtubule aggregation, creating transportation routes, and can interact with spastin in the microtubule activity of nerve cells (30). Knocking down CRMP5 may lead to spindle abnormalities and developmental disorders in oocytes. Overexpression of spastin may reverse the abnormal phenotype caused by the deletion of CRMP5. In summary, our data support a model in which the interaction between spastin and CRMP5 promotes the assembly of spindle microtubules in oocytes by controlling microtubule dynamics, therefore ensuring normal meiosis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii18-ii19
Author(s):  
Charles Day ◽  
Alyssa Langfald ◽  
Florina Grigore ◽  
Leslie Sepaniac ◽  
Jason Stumpff ◽  
...  

Abstract Pediatric midline gliomas – including DIPG – are lethal brain tumors in children, with poor prognosis and limited treatment options that provide only short-term benefits. The majority have a lysine-to-methionine substitution at residue 27 (H3K27M) in genes expressing histone H3 – predominantly in the H3.3 variant. This causes a global reduction in H3 Lys27 tri-methylation (H3K27Me3), comprehensive epigenetic reprogramming, and is a key driver in gliomagenesis. We show that the H3.3K27M mutation also induces chromosome segregation defects, which in high-grade tumors, results in extensive copy number alterations (CNAs). Ser31 is one of five amino acid substitutions differentiating H3.3 from canonical H3.1. Mitotic phosphorylation of H3.3 Ser31 by Chk1 kinase is restricted to pericentromeric heterochromatin, where it plays a role in chromosome segregation. We show that the K27M mutation affects neighboring Ser31 phosphorylation and pericentromeric heterochromatin organization. We demonstrate that (i) H3.3 K27M protein is defective for Ser31 phosphorylation by Chk1 kinase in vitro; (ii) DIPG cell lines have significantly decreased mitotic Ser31 phosphorylation, and are chromosomally unstable; and (iii) CRISPR-reversion of H3.3K27M to Lys27 restores phospho-Ser31 (and Lys27 tri-methylation) and significantly decreases chromosome instability. Expression of H3.3K27M or non-phosphorylatable H3.3S31A mutants in WT cells results in chromosome missegregation; this is suppressed by co-expression of phospho-mimetic H3.3K27M/S31E. In normal cells, chromosome missegregation stimulates p53-dependent cell cycle arrest in G1 to prevent the proliferation of aneuploid daughters. However, cells expressing H3.3 K27M or S31A failed to arrest following missegregation - despite having WT p53. Finally, in a novel mouse model of glioma, mean survival of mice with tumors induced with H3.3K27M and H3.3S31A was 81 and 68 days: 100% of H3.3S31A mice developed high-grade tumors. H3.3 WT controls developed only low-grade tumors and all survived 100 days. H3.3S31A is WT for Lys27 tri-methylation and thus, loss of Ser31 phosphorylation alone is oncogenic.


2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 410-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulf R. Klein ◽  
Markus Haindl ◽  
Erich A. Nigg ◽  
Stefan Muller

The ubiquitin-like SUMO system controls cellular key functions, and several lines of evidence point to a critical role of SUMO for mitotic progression. However, in mammalian cells mitotic substrates of sumoylation and the regulatory components involved are not well defined. Here, we identify Borealin, a component of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), as a mitotic target of SUMO. The CPC, which additionally comprises INCENP, Survivin, and Aurora B, regulates key mitotic events, including chromosome congression, the spindle assembly checkpoint, and cytokinesis. We show that Borealin is preferentially modified by SUMO2/3 and demonstrate that the modification is dynamically regulated during mitotic progression, peaking in early mitosis. Intriguingly, the SUMO ligase RanBP2 interacts with the CPC, stimulates SUMO modification of Borealin in vitro, and is required for its modification in vivo. Moreover, the SUMO isopeptidase SENP3 is a specific interaction partner of Borealin and catalyzes the removal of SUMO2/3 from Borealin. These data thus delineate a mitotic SUMO2/3 conjugation–deconjugation cycle of Borealin and further assign a regulatory function of RanBP2 and SENP3 in the mitotic SUMO pathway.


1998 ◽  
Vol 111 (5) ◽  
pp. 557-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Roghi ◽  
R. Giet ◽  
R. Uzbekov ◽  
N. Morin ◽  
I. Chartrain ◽  
...  

By differential screening of a Xenopus laevis egg cDNA library, we have isolated a 2,111 bp cDNA which corresponds to a maternal mRNA specifically deadenylated after fertilisation. This cDNA, called Eg2, encodes a 407 amino acid protein kinase. The pEg2 sequence shows significant identity with members of a new protein kinase sub-family which includes Aurora from Drosophila and Ipl1 (increase in ploidy-1) from budding yeast, enzymes involved in centrosome migration and chromosome segregation, respectively. A single 46 kDa polypeptide, which corresponds to the deduced molecular mass of pEg2, is immunodetected in Xenopus oocyte and egg extracts, as well as in lysates of Xenopus XL2 cultured cells. In XL2 cells, pEg2 is immunodetected only in S, G2 and M phases of the cell cycle, where it always localises to the centrosomal region of the cell. In addition, pEg2 ‘invades’ the microtubules at the poles of the mitotic spindle in metaphase and anaphase. Immunoelectron microscopy experiments show that pEg2 is located precisely around the pericentriolar material in prophase and on the spindle microtubules in anaphase. We also demonstrate that pEg2 binds directly to taxol stabilised microtubules in vitro. In addition, we show that the presence of microtubules during mitosis is not necessary for an association between pEg2 and the centrosome. Finally we show that a catalytically inactive pEg2 kinase stops the assembly of bipolar mitotic spindles in Xenopus egg extracts.


1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 3197-3207
Author(s):  
P R Caron ◽  
P Watt ◽  
J C Wang

A set of carboxy-terminal deletion mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA topoisomerase II were constructed for studying the functions of the carboxyl domain in vitro and in vivo. The wild-type yeast enzyme is a homodimer with 1,429 amino acid residues in each of the two polypeptides; truncation of the C terminus to Ile-1220 has little effect on the function of the enzyme in vitro or in vivo, whereas truncations extending beyond Gln-1138 yield completely inactive proteins. Several mutant enzymes with C termini in between these two residues were found to be catalytically active but unable to complement a top2-4 temperature-sensitive mutation. Immunomicroscopy results suggest that the removal of a nuclear localization signal in the C-terminal domain is likely to contribute to the physiological dysfunction of these proteins; the ability of these mutant proteins to relax supercoiled DNA in vivo shows, however, that at least some of the mutant proteins are present in the nuclei in a catalytically active form. In contrast to the ability of the catalytically active mutant proteins to relax supercoiled intracellular DNA, all mutants that do not complement the temperature-dependent lethality and high frequency of chromosomal nondisjunction of top2-4 were found to lack decatenation activity in vivo. The plausible roles of the DNA topoisomerase II C-terminal domain, in addition to providing a signal for nuclear localization, are discussed in the light of these results.


2018 ◽  
Vol 475 (23) ◽  
pp. 3903-3915 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Cramer ◽  
Onkar Sharma ◽  
S.D. Zakharov

Current problems in the understanding of colicin import across the Escherichia coli outer membrane (OM), involving a range of cytotoxic mechanisms, are discussed: (I) Crystal structure analysis of colicin E3 (RNAase) with bound OM vitamin B12 receptor, BtuB, and of the N-terminal translocation (T) domain of E3 and E9 (DNAase) inserted into the OM OmpF porin, provide details of the initial interaction of the colicin central receptor (R)- and N-terminal T-domain with OM receptors/translocators. (II) Features of the translocon include: (a) high-affinity (Kd ≈ 10−9 M) binding of the E3 receptor-binding R-domain E3 to BtuB; (b) insertion of disordered colicin N-terminal domain into the OmpF trimer; (c) binding of the N-terminus, documented for colicin E9, to the TolB protein on the periplasmic side of OmpF. Reinsertion of the colicin N-terminus into the second of the three pores in OmpF implies a colicin anchor site on the periplasmic side of OmpF. (III) Studies on the insertion of nuclease colicins into the cytoplasmic compartment imply that translocation proceeds via the C-terminal catalytic domain, proposed here to insert through the unoccupied third pore of the OmpF trimer, consistent with in vitro occlusion of OmpF channels by the isolated E3 C-terminal domain. (IV) Discussion of channel-forming colicins focuses mainly on colicin E1 for which BtuB is receptor and the OM TolC protein the proposed translocator. The ability of TolC, part of a multidrug efflux pump, for which there is no precedent for an import function, to provide a trans-periplasmic import pathway for colicin E1, is questioned on the basis of an unfavorable hairpin conformation of colicin N-terminal peptides inserted into TolC.


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