TheS. pombeaurora-related kinase Ark1 associates with mitotic structures in a stage dependent manner and is required for chromosome segregation

2001 ◽  
Vol 114 (24) ◽  
pp. 4371-4384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janni Petersen ◽  
Jeannie Paris ◽  
Martin Willer ◽  
Michel Philippe ◽  
Iain M. Hagan
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Histone H3 ◽  
Central Zone ◽  
Chromosome Condensation ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Aurora B ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Aurora A ◽  
Spindle Formation

Metazoans contain three aurora-related kinases. Aurora A is required for spindle formation while aurora B is required for chromosome condensation and cytokinesis. Less is known about the function of aurora C. S. pombe contains a single aurora-related kinase, Ark1. Although Ark1 protein levels remained constant as cells progressed through the mitotic cell cycle, its distribution altered during mitosis and meiosis. Throughout G2 Ark1 was concentrated in one to three nuclear foci that were not associated with the spindle pole body/centromere complex. Following commitment to mitosis Ark1 associated with chromatin and was particularly concentrated at several sites including kinetochores/centromeres. Kinetochore/centromere association diminished during anaphase A, after which it was distributed along the spindle. The protein became restricted to a small central zone that transiently enlarged as the spindle extended. As in many other systems mitotic fission yeast cells exhibit a much greater degree of phosphorylation of serine 10 of histone H3 than interphase cells. A number of studies have linked this modification with chromosome condensation. Ark1 immuno-precipitates phosphorylated serine 10 of histone H3 in vitro. This activity was highest in mitotic extracts. The absence of the histone H3 phospho-serine 10 epitope from mitotic cells in which the ark1+ gene had been deleted (ark1.Δ1); the inability of these cells to resolve their chromosomes during anaphase and the co-localisation of this phospho-epitope with Ark1 early in mitosis, all suggest that Ark1 phosphorylates serine 10 of histone H3 in vivo. ark1.Δ1 cells also exhibited a reduction in kinetochore activity and a minor defect in spindle formation. Thus the enzyme activity, localisation and phenotype arising from our manipulations of this single fission yeast aurora kinase family member suggest that this single kinase is executing functions that are separately implemented by distinct aurora A and aurora B kinases in higher systems.

scholarly journals Mitotic Phosphorylation of Histone H3: Spatio-Temporal Regulation by Mammalian Aurora Kinases

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 874-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Crosio ◽  
Gian Maria Fimia ◽  
Romain Loury ◽  
Masashi Kimura ◽  
Yukio Okano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Transformation ◽  
Histone H3 ◽  
Aurora B ◽  
Chromosome Loss ◽  
Aurora A Kinase ◽  
Aurora A ◽  
H3 Phosphorylation ◽  
Spatio Temporal

ABSTRACT Phosphorylation at a highly conserved serine residue (Ser-10) in the histone H3 tail is considered to be a crucial event for the onset of mitosis. This modification appears early in the G2 phase within pericentromeric heterochromatin and spreads in an ordered fashion coincident with mitotic chromosome condensation. Mutation of Ser-10 is essential in Tetrahymena, since it results in abnormal chromosome segregation and extensive chromosome loss during mitosis and meiosis, establishing a strong link between signaling and chromosome dynamics. Although mitotic H3 phosphorylation has been long recognized, the transduction routes and the identity of the protein kinases involved have been elusive. Here we show that the expression of Aurora-A and Aurora-B, two kinases of the Aurora/AIK family, is tightly coordinated with H3 phosphorylation during the G2/M transition. During the G2 phase, the Aurora-A kinase is coexpressed while the Aurora-B kinase colocalizes with phosphorylated histone H3. At prophase and metaphase, Aurora-A is highly localized in the centrosomic region and in the spindle poles while Aurora-B is present in the centromeric region concurrent with H3 phosphorylation, to then translocate by cytokinesis to the midbody region. Both Aurora-A and Aurora-B proteins physically interact with the H3 tail and efficiently phosphorylate Ser10 both in vitro and in vivo, even if Aurora-A appears to be a better H3 kinase than Aurora-B. Since Aurora-A and Aurora-B are known to be overexpressed in a variety of human cancers, our findings provide an attractive link between cell transformation, chromatin modifications and a specific kinase system.

scholarly journals Protein phosphatase 6 regulates mitotic spindle formation by controlling the T-loop phosphorylation state of Aurora A bound to its activator TPX2

2010 ◽  
Vol 191 (7) ◽  
pp. 1315-1332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kang Zeng ◽  
Ricardo Nunes Bastos ◽  
Francis A. Barr ◽  
Ulrike Gruneberg
Keyword(s):  
Protein Phosphatase ◽  
Aurora A ◽  
Spindle Formation ◽  
Regulatory Subunits ◽  
Kinase Activation ◽  
Activator Proteins ◽  
Mitotic Kinase ◽  
General Importance ◽  
The Stability

Many protein kinases are activated by a conserved regulatory step involving T-loop phosphorylation. Although there is considerable focus on kinase activator proteins, the importance of specific T-loop phosphatases reversing kinase activation has been underappreciated. We find that the protein phosphatase 6 (PP6) holoenzyme is the major T-loop phosphatase for Aurora A, an essential mitotic kinase. Loss of PP6 function by depletion of catalytic or regulatory subunits interferes with spindle formation and chromosome alignment because of increased Aurora A activity. Aurora A T-loop phosphorylation and the stability of the Aurora A–TPX2 complex are increased in cells depleted of PP6 but not other phosphatases. Furthermore, purified PP6 acts as a T-loop phosphatase for Aurora A–TPX2 complexes in vitro, whereas catalytically inactive mutants cannot dephosphorylate Aurora A or rescue the PPP6C depletion phenotype. These results demonstrate a hitherto unappreciated role for PP6 as the T-loop phosphatase regulating Aurora A activity during spindle formation and suggest the general importance of this form of regulation.

scholarly journals Induction of nuclear envelope breakdown, chromosome condensation, and spindle formation in cell-free extracts.

1985 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 518-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Lohka ◽  
J L Maller
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Envelope ◽  
Chromosome Condensation ◽  
Sperm Chromatin ◽  
Spindle Formation ◽  
Nuclear Envelope Breakdown ◽  
Multipolar Spindles ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Nuclear Envelope Assembly ◽  
Pronuclear Formation

Incubation of demembranated sperm chromatin in cytoplasmic extracts of unfertilized Xenopus laevis eggs resulted in nuclear envelope assembly, chromosome decondensation, and sperm pronuclear formation. In contrast, egg extracts made with EGTA-containing buffers induced the sperm chromatin to form chromosomes or irregularly shaped clumps of chromatin that were incorporated into bipolar or multipolar spindles. The 150,000 g supernatants of the EGTA extracts could not alone support these changes in incubated nuclei. However, these supernatants induced not only chromosome condensation and spindle formation, but also nuclear envelope breakdown when added to sperm pronuclei or isolated Xenopus liver or brain nuclei that were incubated in extracts made without EGTA. Similar changes were induced by partially purified preparations of maturation-promoting factor. The addition of calcium chloride to extracts containing condensed chromosomes and spindles caused dissolution of the spindles, decondensation of the chromosomes, and re-formation of interphase nuclei. These results indicate that nuclear envelope breakdown, chromosome condensation, and spindle assembly, as well as the regulation of these processes by Ca2+-sensitive cytoplasmic components, can be studied in vitro using extracts of amphibian eggs.

scholarly journals Roles of a Fimbrin and an α-Actinin-like Protein in Fission Yeast Cell Polarization and Cytokinesis

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1061-1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Qiu Wu ◽  
Jürg Bähler ◽  
John R. Pringle
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Protein Localization ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Cell Polarization ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Cortical Actin ◽  
Ring Assembly ◽  
Or Organization

Eukaryotic cells contain many actin-interacting proteins, including the α-actinins and the fimbrins, both of which have actin cross-linking activity in vitro. We report here the identification and characterization of both an α-actinin-like protein (Ain1p) and a fimbrin (Fim1p) in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Ain1p localizes to the actomyosin-containing medial ring in an F-actin–dependent manner, and the Ain1p ring contracts during cytokinesis. ain1 deletion cells have no obvious defects under normal growth conditions but display severe cytokinesis defects, associated with defects in medial-ring and septum formation, under certain stress conditions. Overexpression of Ain1p also causes cytokinesis defects, and the ain1 deletion shows synthetic effects with other mutations known to affect medial-ring positioning and/or organization. Fim1p localizes both to the cortical actin patches and to the medial ring in an F-actin–dependent manner, and several lines of evidence suggest that Fim1p is involved in polarization of the actin cytoskeleton. Although a fim1deletion strain has no detectable defect in cytokinesis, overexpression of Fim1p causes a lethal cytokinesis defect associated with a failure to form the medial ring and concentrate actin patches at the cell middle. Moreover, an ain1 fim1 double mutant has a synthetical-lethal defect in medial-ring assembly and cell division. Thus, Ain1p and Fim1p appear to have an overlapping and essential function in fission yeast cytokinesis. In addition, protein-localization and mutant-phenotype data suggest that Fim1p, but not Ain1p, plays important roles in mating and in spore formation.

scholarly journals A small-molecule inhibitor of Haspin alters the kinetochore functions of Aurora B

2012 ◽  
Vol 199 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna De Antoni ◽  
Stefano Maffini ◽  
Stefan Knapp ◽  
Andrea Musacchio ◽  
Stefano Santaguida
Keyword(s):  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Hela Cells ◽  
Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ◽  
Histone H3 ◽  
Aurora B ◽  
Molecule Inhibitor ◽  
Chromosome Passenger Complex ◽  
Kinase A

By phosphorylating Thr3 of histone H3, Haspin promotes centromeric recruitment of the chromosome passenger complex (CPC) during mitosis. Aurora B kinase, a CPC subunit, sustains chromosome bi-orientation and the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Here, we characterize the small molecule 5-iodotubercidin (5-ITu) as a potent Haspin inhibitor. In vitro, 5-ITu potently inhibited Haspin but not Aurora B. Consistently, 5-ITu counteracted the centromeric localization of the CPC without affecting the bulk of Aurora B activity in HeLa cells. Mislocalization of Aurora B correlated with dephosphorylation of CENP-A and Hec1 and SAC override at high nocodazole concentrations. 5-ITu also impaired kinetochore recruitment of Bub1 and BubR1 kinases, and this effect was reversed by concomitant inhibition of phosphatase activity. Forcing localization of Aurora B to centromeres in 5-ITu also restored Bub1 and BubR1 localization but failed to rescue the SAC override. This result suggests that a target of 5-ITu, possibly Haspin itself, may further contribute to SAC signaling downstream of Aurora B.

Manufactured Soil Aggregates for Studying Microhabitats

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry Harvey ◽  
Ricky Wildman ◽  
Sacha Mooney ◽  
Simon Avery
Keyword(s):  
Soil Structure ◽  
Soil Aggregates ◽  
Environmental Stressors ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Natural Counterpart ◽  
Physical Variables

<p>Environmental perturbation, anthropogenic or otherwise, can have a profound effect on soil microbiota and essential biogeochemical processes. The general resistance and adaptation of yeasts and other fungi to stressors has been well studied in vitro however, the influence of key physical variables, such as how soil structure regulates fungal response to perturbation, is poorly understood. In this study, we developed an approach to manufacture soil macroaggregates that are characteristically similar to their natural counterpart (determined by X-ray CT) and with defined microbial composition. This new tool allowed us to examine the influence of soil aggregation on fungal stress response by manufacturing aggregates with yeast cells either within, or on, the aggregate surface. Environmental stressors including heavy metals, anoxia, and heat stress were applied to these aggregates to capture an array of environmental stressors and assay differences in survival between exo-and-endo aggregate cells. Results generated with this new tool indicate that the location of yeast cells in soil macroaggregates can impact on their survival, in a stressor- and time-dependent manner.</p>

scholarly journals A single amino acid change converts Aurora-A into Aurora-B-like kinase in terms of partner specificity and cellular function

2009 ◽  
Vol 106 (17) ◽  
pp. 6939-6944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingyan Fu ◽  
Minglei Bian ◽  
Junjun Liu ◽  
Qing Jiang ◽  
Chuanmao Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Aurora Kinase ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Aurora B ◽  
Aurora A ◽  
Single Amino Acid Residue ◽  
Single Amino Acid Change ◽  
Equivalent Residue ◽  
And Function

Aurora kinase-A and -B are key regulators of the cell cycle and tumorigenesis. It has remained a mystery why these 2 Aurora kinases, although highly similar in protein sequence and structure, are distinct in subcellular localization and function. Here, we report the striking finding that a single amino acid residue is responsible for these differences. We replaced the Gly-198 of Aurora-A with the equivalent residue Asn-142 of Aurora-B and found that in HeLa cells, Aurora-AG198N was recruited to the inner centromere in metaphase and the midzone in anaphase, reminiscent of the Aurora-B localization. Moreover, Aurora-AG198N compensated for the loss of Aurora-B in chromosome misalignment and cell premature exit from mitosis. Furthermore, Aurora-AG198N formed a complex with the Aurora-B partners, INCENP and Survivin, and its localization depended on this interaction. Aurora-AG198N phosphorylated the Aurora-B substrates INCENP and Survivin in vitro. Therefore, we propose that the presence of Gly or Asn at a single site assigns Aurora-A and -B to their respective partners and thus to their distinctive subcellular localizations and functions.

scholarly journals Aurora A activates D-TACC–Msps complexes exclusively at centrosomes to stabilize centrosomal microtubules

2005 ◽  
Vol 170 (7) ◽  
pp. 1039-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa P. Barros ◽  
Kazuhisa Kinoshita ◽  
Anthony A. Hyman ◽  
Jordan W. Raff
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Coiled Coil ◽  
Mutant Form ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Aurora A ◽  
Animal Cells

Centrosomes are the dominant sites of microtubule (MT) assembly during mitosis in animal cells, but it is unclear how this is achieved. Transforming acidic coiled coil (TACC) proteins stabilize MTs during mitosis by recruiting Minispindles (Msps)/XMAP215 proteins to centrosomes. TACC proteins can be phosphorylated in vitro by Aurora A kinases, but the significance of this remains unclear. We show that Drosophila melanogaster TACC (D-TACC) is phosphorylated on Ser863 exclusively at centrosomes during mitosis in an Aurora A–dependent manner. In embryos expressing only a mutant form of D-TACC that cannot be phosphorylated on Ser863 (GFP-S863L), spindle MTs are partially destabilized, whereas astral MTs are dramatically destabilized. GFP-S863L is concentrated at centrosomes and recruits Msps there but cannot associate with the minus ends of MTs. We propose that the centrosomal phosphorylation of D-TACC on Ser863 allows D-TACC–Msps complexes to stabilize the minus ends of centrosome-associated MTs. This may explain why centrosomes are such dominant sites of MT assembly during mitosis.

scholarly journals A Fission Yeast Bioassay for Rapid Screening for Antiproliferative Agents from Bauhinia variegata and Leptadenia reticulata

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (06) ◽  
Author(s):  
P A Vyas ◽  
V J Braganza
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Temperature ◽  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Mtt Assay ◽  
Antiproliferative Activity ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Rapid Screening ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Crude Extracts ◽  
Bauhinia Variegata

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of crude extracts from leaves of Bauhinia variegata and Leptadenia reticulata using fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a model. The crude extracts of both plants were prepared by three experimental conditions (25°C, elevated temperature and ultrasound waves) and four solvent systems [Water, Methanol, Water: Methanol (1:1) and Chloroform: Methanol (1:1)]. MTT assay was performed for estimating the cell viability and the results were expressed as % growth inhibition. Overall based on the MTT assay performed on yeast cells, Water: Methanol, Methanol and Water extracts showed higher antiproliferative activity than the positive control (Paclitaxel) in a dose-dependent manner. For Bauhinia variegata and Leptadenia reticulata, methanol extract (25°C temperature and elevated temperature, respectively) exhibited highest inhibition which was approximately 80%. In conclusion, this study has indicated that Bauhinia variegata and Leptadenia reticulata extracts possess strong antiproliferative activity. Furthermore, it could act as a potential source for identifying new molecules with chemotherapeutic potential against cancer.

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