scholarly journals Concentrating on the mitotic spindle

2015 ◽  
Vol 210 (5) ◽  
pp. 691-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul S. Maddox ◽  
Anne-Marie Ladouceur
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Molecular Crowding ◽  
Cell Biol ◽  
New Feature

In eukaryotes, the microtubule-based spindle drives chromosome segregation. In this issue, Schweizer et al. (2015; J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201506107) find that the spindle area is demarcated by a semipermeable organelle barrier. Molecular crowding, which is microtubule independent, causes the enrichment and/or retention of crucial factors in the spindle region. Their results add an important new feature to the models of how this structure assembles and is regulated.

scholarly journals Reductionism at the vertebrate kinetochore

2012 ◽  
Vol 200 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Stankovic ◽  
Lars E.T. Jansen
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Large Structure ◽  
Cell Biol ◽  
Spindle Microtubules ◽  
The Creation

The kinetochore forms the site of attachment for mitotic spindle microtubules driving chromosome segregation. The interdependent protein interactions in this large structure have made it difficult to dissect the function of its components. In this issue, Hori et al. (2013. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201210106) present a novel and powerful methodology to address the sufficiency of individual proteins for the creation of a functional de novo centromere.

scholarly journals An organelle-exclusion envelope assists mitosis and underlies distinct molecular crowding in the spindle region

2015 ◽  
Vol 210 (5) ◽  
pp. 695-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Schweizer ◽  
Nisha Pawar ◽  
Matthias Weiss ◽  
Helder Maiato
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Spindle Assembly ◽  
Membrane System ◽  
Correlation Spectroscopy ◽  
Molecular Crowding ◽  
Exclusion Zone ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster S2 Cells ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
And Function

The mitotic spindle is a microtubular assembly required for chromosome segregation during mitosis. Additionally, a spindle matrix has long been proposed to assist this process, but its nature has remained elusive. By combining live-cell imaging with laser microsurgery, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy in Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells, we uncovered a microtubule-independent mechanism that underlies the accumulation of molecules in the spindle region. This mechanism relies on a membranous system surrounding the mitotic spindle that defines an organelle-exclusion zone that is conserved in human cells. Supported by mathematical modeling, we demonstrate that organelle exclusion by a membrane system causes spatio-temporal differences in molecular crowding states that are sufficient to drive accumulation of mitotic regulators, such as Mad2 and Megator/Tpr, as well as soluble tubulin, in the spindle region. This membranous “spindle envelope” confined spindle assembly, and its mechanical disruption compromised faithful chromosome segregation. Thus, cytoplasmic compartmentalization persists during early mitosis to promote spindle assembly and function.

scholarly journals Genes Involved in Sister Chromatid Separation and Segregation in the Budding Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 159 (2) ◽  
pp. 453-470
Author(s):  
Sue Biggins ◽  
Needhi Bhalla ◽  
Amy Chang ◽  
Dana L Smith ◽  
Andrew W Murray
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Sister Chromatid ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Budding Yeast ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Chromosome Behavior ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Sister Chromatids ◽  
Marked Chromosome ◽  
Sister Chromatid Separation

Abstract Accurate chromosome segregation requires the precise coordination of events during the cell cycle. Replicated sister chromatids are held together while they are properly attached to and aligned by the mitotic spindle at metaphase. At anaphase, the links between sisters must be promptly dissolved to allow the mitotic spindle to rapidly separate them to opposite poles. To isolate genes involved in chromosome behavior during mitosis, we microscopically screened a temperature-sensitive collection of budding yeast mutants that contain a GFP-marked chromosome. Nine LOC (loss of cohesion) complementation groups that do not segregate sister chromatids at anaphase were identified. We cloned the corresponding genes and performed secondary tests to determine their function in chromosome behavior. We determined that three LOC genes, PDS1, ESP1, and YCS4, are required for sister chromatid separation and three other LOC genes, CSE4, IPL1, and SMT3, are required for chromosome segregation. We isolated alleles of two genes involved in splicing, PRP16 and PRP19, which impair α-tubulin synthesis thus preventing spindle assembly, as well as an allele of CDC7 that is defective in DNA replication. We also report an initial characterization of phenotypes associated with the SMT3/SUMO gene and the isolation of WSS1, a high-copy smt3 suppressor.

scholarly journals Disruption of Centrosome Structure, Chromosome Segregation, and Cytokinesis by Misexpression of Human Cdc14A Phosphatase

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2289-2300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett K. Kaiser ◽  
Zachary A. Zimmerman ◽  
Harry Charbonneau ◽  
Peter K. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Genomic Stability ◽  
Mitotic Exit ◽  
Protein Abundance ◽  
Cyclin Dependent Kinase ◽  
Chromosome Partitioning

In budding yeast, the Cdc14p phosphatase activates mitotic exit by dephosphorylation of specific cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) substrates and seems to be regulated by sequestration in the nucleolus until its release in mitosis. Herein, we have analyzed the two human homologs of Cdc14p, hCdc14A and hCdc14B. We demonstrate that the human Cdc14A phosphatase is selective for Cdk substrates in vitro and that although the protein abundance and intrinsic phosphatase activity of hCdc14A and B vary modestly during the cell cycle, their localization is cell cycle regulated. hCdc14A dynamically localizes to interphase but not mitotic centrosomes, and hCdc14B localizes to the interphase nucleolus. These distinct patterns of localization suggest that each isoform of human Cdc14 likely regulates separate cell cycle events. In addition, hCdc14A overexpression induces the loss of the pericentriolar markers pericentrin and γ-tubulin from centrosomes. Overproduction of hCdc14A also causes mitotic spindle and chromosome segregation defects, defective karyokinesis, and a failure to complete cytokinesis. Thus, the hCdc14A phosphatase appears to play a role in the regulation of the centrosome cycle, mitosis, and cytokinesis, thereby influencing chromosome partitioning and genomic stability in human cells.

Regulation of Microtubule Assembly: The View From The End

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (S2) ◽  
pp. 80-81
Author(s):  
L. Cassimeris ◽  
C. Spittle ◽  
M. Kratzer
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Dynamic Instability ◽  
Intrinsic Property ◽  
Microtubule Dynamics ◽  
Microtubule Assembly ◽  
Chromosome Movement ◽  
Spindle Formation ◽  
Associated Proteins

The mitotic spindle is responsible for chromosome movement during mitosis. It is composed of a dynamic array of microtubules and associated proteins whose assembly and constant turnover are required for both spindle formation and chromosome movement. Because microtubule assembly and turnover are necessary for chromosome segregation, we are studying how cells regulate microtubule dynamics. Microtubules are polarized polymers composed of tubulin subunits; they assemble by a process of dynamic instability where individual microtubules exist in persistent phases of elongation or rapid shortening with abrupt transitions between these two states. The switch from elongation to shortening is termed catastrophe, and the switch from shortening to elongation, rescue. Although dynamic instability is an intrinsic property of the tubulin subunits, cells use associated proteins to both speed elongation (∼ 10 fold) and regulate transitions.The only protein isolated to date capable of promoting fast polymerization consistent with rates in vivo is XMAP215, a 215 kD protein from Xenopus eggs.

scholarly journals A quantitative analysis of cohesin decay in mitotic fidelity

2018 ◽  
Vol 217 (10) ◽  
pp. 3343-3353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Carvalhal ◽  
Alexandra Tavares ◽  
Mariana B. Santos ◽  
Mihailo Mirkovic ◽  
Raquel A. Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Sister Chromatid ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Sister Chromatid Cohesion ◽  
Force Balance ◽  
Chromosome Organization ◽  
Centromeric Chromatin ◽  
Chromatid Cohesion ◽  
Chromosome Alignment

Sister chromatid cohesion mediated by cohesin is essential for mitotic fidelity. It counteracts spindle forces to prevent premature chromatid individualization and random genome segregation. However, it is unclear what effects a partial decline of cohesin may have on chromosome organization. In this study, we provide a quantitative analysis of cohesin decay by inducing acute removal of defined amounts of cohesin from metaphase-arrested chromosomes. We demonstrate that sister chromatid cohesion is very resistant to cohesin loss as chromatid disjunction is only observed when chromosomes lose >80% of bound cohesin. Removal close to this threshold leads to chromosomes that are still cohered but display compromised chromosome alignment and unstable spindle attachments. Partial cohesin decay leads to increased duration of mitosis and susceptibility to errors in chromosome segregation. We propose that high cohesin density ensures centromeric chromatin rigidity necessary to maintain a force balance with the mitotic spindle. Partial cohesin loss may lead to chromosome segregation errors even when sister chromatid cohesion is fulfilled.

scholarly journals Transient defects of mitotic spindle geometry and chromosome segregation errors

Cell Division ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
William T Silkworth ◽  
Daniela Cimini
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Mitotic Spindle

scholarly journals All that is old does not wither: Conservation of outer kinetochore proteins across all eukaryotes?

2017 ◽  
Vol 216 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aruni P. Senaratne ◽  
Ines A. Drinnenberg
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Cell Biol

The kinetochore drives faithful chromosome segregation in all eukaryotes, yet the underlying machinery is diverse across species. D’Archivio and Wickstead (2017. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201608043) apply sensitive homology predictions to identify proteins in kinetoplastids with similarity to canonical outer kinetochore proteins, suggesting some degree of universality in the eukaryotic kinetochore.

scholarly journals Identification of overlapping DNA-binding and centromere-targeting domains in the human kinetochore protein CENP-C.

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 3576-3586 ◽  
Author(s):  
C H Yang ◽  
J Tomkiel ◽  
H Saitoh ◽  
D H Johnson ◽  
W C Earnshaw
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Centromeric Heterochromatin ◽  
Structural Protein ◽  
Chromosomal Site

The kinetochore in eukaryotes serves as the chromosomal site of attachment for microtubules of the mitotic spindle and directs the movements necessary for proper chromosome segregation. In mammalian cells, the kinetochore is a highly differentiated trilaminar structure situated at the surface of the centromeric heterochromatin. CENP-C is a basic, DNA-binding protein that localizes to the inner kinetochore plate, the region that abuts the heterochromatin. Microinjection experiments using antibodies specific for CENP-C have demonstrated that this protein is required for the assembly and/or stability of the kinetochore as well as for a timely transition through mitosis. From these observations, it has been suggested that CENP-C is a structural protein that is involved in the organization or the kinetochore. In this report, we wished to identify and map the functional domains of CENP-C. Analysis of CENP-C truncation mutants expressed in vivo demonstrated that CENP-C possesses an autonomous centromere-targeting domain situated at the central region of the CENP-C polypeptide. Similarly, in vitro assays revealed that a region of CENP-C with the ability to bind DNA is also located at the center of the CENP-C molecule, where it overlaps the centromere-targeting domain.

scholarly journals Intermediates in the assembly of mitotic checkpoint complexes and their role in the regulation of the anaphase-promoting complex

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 966-971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Kaisari ◽  
Danielle Sitry-Shevah ◽  
Shirly Miniowitz-Shemtov ◽  
Avram Hershko
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ◽  
Mitotic Checkpoint ◽  
Anaphase Promoting Complex ◽  
Checkpoint Proteins ◽  
Sister Chromatids ◽  
Unknown Species ◽  
Mitotic Checkpoint Complex

The mitotic (or spindle assembly) checkpoint system prevents premature separation of sister chromatids in mitosis and thus ensures the fidelity of chromosome segregation. Kinetochores that are not attached properly to the mitotic spindle produce an inhibitory signal that prevents progression into anaphase. The checkpoint system acts on the Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) ubiquitin ligase, which targets for degradation inhibitors of anaphase initiation. APC/C is inhibited by the Mitotic Checkpoint Complex (MCC), which assembles when the checkpoint is activated. MCC is composed of the checkpoint proteins BubR1, Bub3, and Mad2, associated with the APC/C coactivator Cdc20. The intermediary processes in the assembly of MCC are not sufficiently understood. It is also not clear whether or not some subcomplexes of MCC inhibit the APC/C and whether Mad2 is required only for MCC assembly and not for its action on the APC/C. We used purified subcomplexes of mitotic checkpoint proteins to examine these problems. Our results do not support a model in which Mad2 catalytically generates a Mad2-free APC/C inhibitor. We also found that the release of Mad2 from MCC caused a marked (although not complete) decrease in inhibitory action, suggesting a role of Mad2 in MCC for APC/C inhibition. A previously unknown species of MCC, which consists of Mad2, BubR1, and two molecules of Cdc20, contributes to the inhibition of APC/C by the mitotic checkpoint system.

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