During cell division, chromosome segregation is orchestrated by the interaction of spindle microtubules with the centromere. A dramatic remodeling of interpolar microtubules into an organized central spindle between the separating chromatids is required for the initiation and execution ofcytokinesis. Central spindle organization requires mitotic kinesins, the chromosomal passenger protein complex, and microtubule bundling protein PRC 1. PRC 1 is phosphorylated by Cdc2 at Thr470 and Thr481 during mitosis. However, the functional relevance of PRC 1 phosphorylation at Thr470 has remained elusive. Here we show that expression of the non-phosphorylatable mutant PRC 1T470A but not the phospho-mimicking mutant PRC 1^T470E causes aberrant organization of the central spindle. Immunoprecipitation experiment indicates that both PRC 1^T470A and PRC 1^T470E mutant proteins associate with wild-type PRC 1, suggesting that phosphorylation of Thr470 does not alter PRC 1 self-association. In addition, in vitro co-sedimentation experiment showed that PRC 1 binds to microtubule independent of the phosphorylation state of Thr470. Gel-filtration experiment suggested that phosphorylation of Thr470 promotes oligomerization of PRC 1. Given the fact that prevention of the Thr470 phosphorylation inhibits PRC 1 oligomerization in vitro and causes an aberrant organization of central spindle in vivo, we propose that this phosphorylation-dependent PRC 1 oligomerization ensures that central spindle assembly occurs at the appropriate time in the cell cycle.
Chuanhai FuFeng YanFang WuQuan WuJoseph WhittakerHaiying HuRenming HuXuebiao Yao
Kinesin superfamily of microtubule- based motor orchestrates a variety of cellular proc- esses. Recent availability of mammalian genomes has enabled analyses of kinesins on the whole ge- nome. Here we present a novel full-length kinesin prediction program (FKPP) for mammalian kinesin gene discovery based on a comparative genomics approach. Contrary to previous predictions of 94 kinesins, we identify a total of 134 potentially kinesin genes from mammalian genomes, including 45 from mouse, 45 from rat and 44 from human. In addition, FKPP synthesizes 25 potentially full-length mam- malian kinesins based on the partial sequences in the database. Surprisingly, FKPP reveals that full-length human CENP-E contains 2701 aa rather than 2663 aa in the database. Experimentation using sequence specific antibody and cDNA sequencing of human CENP-E validates the accuracy of FKPP. Given the remarkable computing efficiency and accuracy of FKPP, we reclassify the mammalian kinesin super- family. Since current databases contain many in- complete sequences, FKPP may provide a novel approach for molecular delineation of kinesins and other protein families.
Chromosome segregation in mitosis is orchestrated by the interaction of the kinetochore with spindle microtubules. Our recent study shows that NEK2A interacts with MAD 1 at the kinetochore and possibly functions as a novel integrator of spindle checkpoint signaling. However, it is unclear how NEK2A regulates kinetochore-microtubule attachment in mitosis. Here we show that NEK2A phosphorylates human Sgo 1 and such phosphorylation is essential for faithful chromosome congression in mitosis. NEK2A binds directly to HsSgol in vitro and co-distributes with HsSgol to the kinetochore of mitotic cells. Our in vitro phosphorylation experiment demonstrated that HsSgo 1 is a substrate of NEK2A and the phosphorylation sites were mapped to Ser^14 and Ser^507 as judged by the incorporation of 32^P. Although such phosphorylation is not required for assembly of HsSgo 1 to the kinetochore, expression of non-phosphorylatable mutant HsSgo 1 perturbed chromosome congression and resulted in a dramatic increase in microtubule attachment errors, including syntelic and monotelic attachments. These findings reveal a key role for the NEK2A-mediated phosphorylation ofHsSgo 1 in orchestrating dynamic kinetochore-microtubule interaction. We propose that NEK2A-mediated phosphorylation of human Sgo 1 provides a link between centromeric cohesion and spindle microtubule attachment at the kinetochores.
Guosheng FuXia DingKai YuanFelix AikhionbareJianhui YaoXin CaiKai JiangXuebiao Yao
Spindle checkpoint is an important biochemical signaling cascade during mitosis which monitors the fidelity of chromosome segregation, and is mediated by protein kinases Mpsl and Bubl/BubRl. Our recent studies show that kinesin-related motor protein CENP-E interacts with BubRl and participates in spindle checkpoint signaling. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying spindle checkpoint signaling, we carried out proteomic dissection of human cell kinetochore and revealed protein kinase TTK, human homologue of yeast Mpsl. Our studies show that TTK is localized to the kinetochore of human cells, and interacts with CENP-E, suggesting that TTK may play an important role in chromosome segregation during mitosis.
