scholarly journals Unattached kinetochores rather than intrakinetochore tension arrest mitosis in taxol-treated cells

2016 ◽  
Vol 212 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Magidson ◽  
Jie He ◽  
Jeffrey G. Ault ◽  
Christopher B. O’Connell ◽  
Nachen Yang ◽  
...  

Kinetochores attach chromosomes to the spindle microtubules and signal the spindle assembly checkpoint to delay mitotic exit until all chromosomes are attached. Light microscopy approaches aimed to indirectly determine distances between various proteins within the kinetochore (termed Delta) suggest that kinetochores become stretched by spindle forces and compact elastically when the force is suppressed. Low Delta is believed to arrest mitotic progression in taxol-treated cells. However, the structural basis of Delta remains unknown. By integrating same-kinetochore light microscopy and electron microscopy, we demonstrate that the value of Delta is affected by the variability in the shape and size of outer kinetochore domains. The outer kinetochore compacts when spindle forces are maximal during metaphase. When the forces are weakened by taxol treatment, the outer kinetochore expands radially and some kinetochores completely lose microtubule attachment, a condition known to arrest mitotic progression. These observations offer an alternative interpretation of intrakinetochore tension and question whether Delta plays a direct role in the control of mitotic progression.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana C. Henriques ◽  
Patrícia M. A. Silva ◽  
Bruno Sarmento ◽  
Hassan Bousbaa

: The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is a surveillance mechanism that prevents mitotic exit at the metaphase-to-anaphase transition until all chromosomes have established correct bipolar attachment to spindle microtubules. Activation of SAC relies on the assembly of the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC), which requires conformational change from inactive open Mad2 (O-Mad2) to the active closed Mad2 (C-Mad2) at unattached kinetochores. The Mad2-binding protein p31comet plays a key role in controlling timely mitotic exit by promoting SAC silencing, through preventing Mad2 activation and promoting MCC disassembly. Besides, increasing evidences highlight the p31comet potential as target for cancer therapy. Here, we provide an updated overview of the functional significance of p31comet in mitotic progression, and discuss the potential of deregulated expression of p31comet in cancer and in therapeutic strategies.


2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (22) ◽  
pp. 4236-4246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S. Hagan ◽  
Michael S. Manak ◽  
Håkon Kirkeby Buch ◽  
Michelle G. Meier ◽  
Patrick Meraldi ◽  
...  

The spindle assembly checkpoint links the onset of anaphase to completion of chromosome-microtubule attachment and is mediated by the binding of Mad and Bub proteins to kinetochores of unattached or maloriented chromosomes. Mad2 and BubR1 traffic between kinetochores and the cytosol, thereby transmitting a “wait anaphase” signal to the anaphase-promoting complex. It is generally assumed that this signal dissipates automatically upon kinetochore-microtubule binding, but it has been shown that under conditions of nocodazole-induced arrest p31comet, a Mad2-binding protein, is required for mitotic progression. In this article we investigate the localization and function of p31comet during normal, unperturbed mitosis in human and marsupial cells. We find that, like Mad2, p31comet traffics on and off kinetochores and is also present in the cytosol. Cells depleted of p31comet arrest in metaphase with mature bipolar kinetochore-microtubule attachments, a satisfied checkpoint, and high cyclin B levels. Thus p31comet is required for timely mitotic exit. We propose that p31comet is an essential component of the machinery that silences the checkpoint during each cell cycle.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spyridon T. Pachis ◽  
Yoshitaka Hiruma ◽  
Anastassis Perrakis ◽  
Geert J.P.L. Kops

ABSTRACTFaithful chromosome segregation relies on the ability of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) to delay anaphase onset until all chromosomes are attached to the mitotic spindle via their kinetochores. MPS1 kinase is recruited to unattached kinetochores to initiate SAC signaling, and is removed from kinetochores once stable microtubule attachments have been formed to allow normal mitotic progression. Here we show that a helical fragment within the kinetochore-targeting NTE module of MPS1 is required for interactions with kinetochores, and also forms intramolecular interactions with its adjacent TPR domain. Bypassing this NTE-TPR interaction results in high MPS1 levels at kinetochores due to loss of regulatory input into MPS1 localization, ineffecient MPS1 delocalization from kinetochores upon microtubule attachment, and SAC silencing defects. These results show that SAC responsiveness to attachments relies on regulated intramolecular interactions in MPS1 and highlight the sensitivity of mitosis to perturbations in the dynamics of the MSP1-NDC80-C interactions.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1087
Author(s):  
Janet Chenevert ◽  
Marianne Roca ◽  
Lydia Besnardeau ◽  
Antonella Ruggiero ◽  
Dalileh Nabi ◽  
...  

In eukaryotic cells, a spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) ensures accurate chromosome segregation, by monitoring proper attachment of chromosomes to spindle microtubules and delaying mitotic progression if connections are erroneous or absent. The SAC is thought to be relaxed during early embryonic development. Here, we evaluate the checkpoint response to lack of kinetochore-spindle microtubule interactions in early embryos of diverse animal species. Our analysis shows that there are two classes of embryos, either proficient or deficient for SAC activation during cleavage. Sea urchins, mussels, and jellyfish embryos show a prolonged delay in mitotic progression in the absence of spindle microtubules from the first cleavage division, while ascidian and amphioxus embryos, like those of Xenopus and zebrafish, continue mitotic cycling without delay. SAC competence during early development shows no correlation with cell size, chromosome number, or kinetochore to cell volume ratio. We show that SAC proteins Mad1, Mad2, and Mps1 lack the ability to recognize unattached kinetochores in ascidian embryos, indicating that SAC signaling is not diluted but rather actively silenced during early chordate development.


2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1667-1675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardo Orr ◽  
Olga Afonso ◽  
Tália Feijão ◽  
Claudio E. Sunkel

The kinetochore is a complex molecular machine that serves as the interface between sister chromatids and the mitotic spindle. The kinetochore assembles at a particular chromosomal locus, the centromere, which is essential to maintain genomic stability during cell division. The kinetochore is a macromolecular puzzle of subcomplexes assembled in a hierarchical manner and fulfils three main functions: microtubule attachment, chromosome and sister chromatid movement, and regulation of mitotic progression though the spindle assembly checkpoint. In the present paper we compare recent results on the assembly, organization and function of the kinetochore in human and Drosophila cells and conclude that, although essential functions are highly conserved, there are important differences that might help define what is a minimal chromosome segregation machinery.


Reproduction ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 152 (1) ◽  
pp. R15-R22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josie K Collins ◽  
Keith T Jones

DNA damage acquired during meiosis can lead to infertility and miscarriage. Hence, it should be important for an oocyte to be able to detect and respond to such events in order to make a healthy egg. Here, the strategies taken by oocytes during their stages of growth to respond to DNA damaging events are reviewed. In particular, recent evidence of a novel pathway in fully grown oocytes helps prevent the formation of mature eggs with DNA damage. It has been found that fully grown germinal vesicle stage oocytes that have been DNA damaged do not arrest at this point in meiosis, but instead undergo meiotic resumption and stall during the first meiotic division. The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint, which is a well-known mitotic pathway employed by somatic cells to monitor chromosome attachment to spindle microtubules, appears to be utilised by oocytes also to respond to DNA damage. As such maturing oocytes are arrested at metaphase I due to an active Spindle Assembly Checkpoint. This is surprising given this checkpoint has been previously studied in oocytes and considered to be weak and ineffectual because of its poor ability to be activated in response to microtubule attachment errors. Therefore, the involvement of the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint in DNA damage responses of mature oocytes during meiosis I uncovers a novel second function for this ubiquitous cellular checkpoint.


eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarida Moura ◽  
Mariana Osswald ◽  
Nelson Leça ◽  
João Barbosa ◽  
António J Pereira ◽  
...  

Faithfull genome partitioning during cell division relies on the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC), a conserved signaling pathway that delays anaphase onset until all chromosomes are attached to spindle microtubules. Mps1 kinase is an upstream SAC regulator that promotes the assembly of an anaphase inhibitor through a sequential multi-target phosphorylation cascade. Thus, the SAC is highly responsive to Mps1, whose activity peaks in early mitosis as a result of its T-loop autophosphorylation. However, the mechanism controlling Mps1 inactivation once kinetochores attach to microtubules and the SAC is satisfied remains unknown. Here we show in vitro and in Drosophila that Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1) inactivates Mps1 by dephosphorylating its T-loop. PP1-mediated dephosphorylation of Mps1 occurs at kinetochores and in the cytosol, and inactivation of both pools of Mps1 during metaphase is essential to ensure prompt and efficient SAC silencing. Overall, our findings uncover a mechanism of SAC inactivation required for timely mitotic exit.


2008 ◽  
Vol 182 (6) ◽  
pp. 1045-1054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dileep Varma ◽  
Pascale Monzo ◽  
Stephanie A. Stehman ◽  
Richard B. Vallee

Cytoplasmic dynein has been implicated in diverse mitotic functions, several involving its association with kinetochores. Much of the supporting evidence comes from inhibition of dynein regulatory factors. To obtain direct insight into kinetochore dynein function, we expressed a series of dynein tail fragments, which we find displace motor-containing dynein heavy chain (HC) from kinetochores without affecting other subunits, regulatory factors, or microtubule binding proteins. Cells with bipolar mitotic spindles progress to late prometaphase-metaphase at normal rates. However, the dynein tail, dynactin, Mad1, and BubR1 persist at the aligned kinetochores, which is consistent with a role for dynein in self-removal and spindle assembly checkpoint inactivation. Kinetochore pairs also show evidence of misorientation relative to the spindle equator and abnormal oscillatory behavior. Further, kinetochore microtubule bundles are severely destabilized at reduced temperatures. Dynein HC RNAi and injection of anti-dynein antibody in MG132-arrested metaphase cells produced similar effects. These results identify a novel function for the dynein motor in stable microtubule attachment and maintenance of kinetochore orientation during metaphase chromosome alignment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (33) ◽  
pp. E4546-E4555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Dou ◽  
Xing Liu ◽  
Wenwen Wang ◽  
Tongge Zhu ◽  
Xinghui Wang ◽  
...  

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is a conserved signaling pathway that monitors faithful chromosome segregation during mitosis. As a core component of SAC, the evolutionarily conserved kinase monopolar spindle 1 (Mps1) has been implicated in regulating chromosome alignment, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Our molecular delineation of Mps1 activity in SAC led to discovery of a previously unidentified structural determinant underlying Mps1 function at the kinetochores. Here, we show that Mps1 contains an internal region for kinetochore localization (IRK) adjacent to the tetratricopeptide repeat domain. Importantly, the IRK region determines the kinetochore localization of inactive Mps1, and an accumulation of inactive Mps1 perturbs accurate chromosome alignment and mitotic progression. Mechanistically, the IRK region binds to the nuclear division cycle 80 complex (Ndc80C), and accumulation of inactive Mps1 at the kinetochores prevents a dynamic interaction between Ndc80C and spindle microtubules (MTs), resulting in an aberrant kinetochore attachment. Thus, our results present a previously undefined mechanism by which Mps1 functions in chromosome alignment by orchestrating Ndc80C–MT interactions and highlight the importance of the precise spatiotemporal regulation of Mps1 kinase activity and kinetochore localization in accurate mitotic progression.


Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 371 (6524) ◽  
pp. 64-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Lara-Gonzalez ◽  
Taekyung Kim ◽  
Karen Oegema ◽  
Kevin Corbett ◽  
Arshad Desai

During cell division, kinetochores couple chromosomes to spindle microtubules. To protect against chromosome gain or loss, kinetochores lacking microtubule attachment locally catalyze association of the checkpoint proteins Cdc20 and Mad2, which is the key event in the formation of a diffusible checkpoint complex that prevents mitotic exit. We elucidated the mechanism of kinetochore-catalyzed Mad2-Cdc20 assembly with a probe that specifically monitors this assembly reaction at kinetochores in living cells. We found that catalysis occurs through a tripartite mechanism that includes localized delivery of Mad2 and Cdc20 substrates and two phosphorylation-dependent interactions that geometrically constrain their positions and prime Cdc20 for interaction with Mad2. These results reveal how unattached kinetochores create a signal that ensures genome integrity during cell division.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document