scholarly journals The Catastrophe-promoting Activity of Ectopic Op18/Stathmin Is Required for Disruption of Mitotic Spindles But Not Interphase Microtubules

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per Holmfeldt ◽  
Niklas Larsson ◽  
Bo Segerman ◽  
Bonnie Howell ◽  
Justin Morabito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Polymerization Rate ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Phosphorylation Sites ◽  
Mitotic Spindles ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Spindle Formation ◽  
Tubulin Binding

Oncoprotein18/stathmin (Op18) is a microtubule (MT) destabilizing protein that is inactivated during mitosis by phosphorylation at four Ser-residues. Op18 has at least two functions; the N-terminal region is required for catastrophe-promotion (i.e., transition from elongation to shortening), while the C-terminal region is required to inhibit MT-polymerization rate in vitro. We show here that a “pseudophosphorylation” derivative of Op18 (i.e., four Ser- to Glu-substitutions at phosphorylation sites) exhibits a selective loss of catastrophe-promoting activity. This is contrasted to authentic phosphorylation, which efficiently attenuates all activities except tubulin binding. In intact cells, overexpression of pseudophosphorylated Op18, which is not phosphorylated by endogenous kinases, is shown to destabilize interphase MTs but to leave spindle formation untouched. To test if the mitotic spindle is sensitive only to the catastrophe-promoting activity of Op18 and resistant to C-terminally associated activities, N- and C-terminal truncations with defined activity-profiles were employed. The cell-cycle phenotypes of nonphosphorylatable mutants (i.e., four Ser- to Ala-substitutions) of these truncation derivatives demonstrated that catastrophe promotion is required for interference with the mitotic spindle, while the C-terminally associated activities are sufficient to destabilize interphase MTs. These results demonstrate that specific Op18 derivatives with defined activity-profiles can be used as probes to distinguish interphase and mitotic MTs.

Centrosome Aberrations, Disturbed Mitotic Spindle Formation and G1 Arrest in Normal and Leukemic Cells Treated with the SRC/ABL Inhibitor Dasatinib.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 2167-2167
Author(s):  
Alice Fabarius ◽  
Michelle Giehl ◽  
Alwin Kraemer ◽  
Oliver Frank ◽  
Martin C. Mueller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Dermal Fibroblasts ◽  
G1 Arrest ◽  
Osteosarcoma Cell ◽  
Cycle Progression ◽  
Spindle Formation

Abstract Multitargeted ABL inhibitors have been developed to simultaneously inhibit various pathways associated with proliferation in BCR-ABL+ diseases. Dasatinib (Bristol Myers Squibb) is a potent inhibitor targeting ABL, SRC, and other tyrosine kinases. SRC kinases are required for progression through the initial phase of mitosis. Centrosomes play a fundamental role in mitotic spindle organization, chromosome segregation and genetic stability. We sought to evaluate the activity of dasatinib on proliferation, centrosome status, spindle formation, and cell cycle progression in vitro and in vivo. Normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF), Chinese hamster embryonal fibroblasts (CHE), and the human osteosarcoma cell line U2OS were treated with serial concentrations (1nM-10μM) of dasatinib for 3 weeks. Effects of dasatinib were compared with data achieved with the ABL inhibitors imatinib (Novartis, 5–20μM) and nilotinib (Novartis, 0.5–20μM), the specific SRC inhibitor PP2 (Calbiochem-Novabiochem, 0.1–2μM), the ABL/LYN inhibitor INNO-406 (Innovive, 0.1–2μM), and solvent control. Bone marrow and peripheral blood samples from 18 patients (pts, 10 m, 8 f; median age 57 yrs, range 26–75) treated with dasatinib (70mg bid) after imatinib failure for a median of 11 mo (range, 3–16) were investigated. 17 pts had chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase. One patient suffered from a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. For comparison, 3 untreated CML pts and 3 healthy individuals were evaluated. Cell proliferation was determined in liquid culture incubated with serial dilutions of the inhibitor. Centrosome morphology and spindle formation were evaluated after pericentrin and α-tubulin staining, respectively. Cell cycle progression was analyzed by FACS and expression of EG5 by immunofluorescence microscopy. Dasatinib induced a G1 cell cycle arrest in all cell lines tested and in pts associated with a shift to 1n DNA ploidy and absence of EG5 as a marker for G2 phase/mitosis. In vitro, centrosomal aberrations and delay of spindle formation were observed in a dose dependent fashion. In pts, centrosome alterations were found in a median of 17% (range, 10–15) of cells. Disturbed spindle formation was observed in 9/18 pts. In comparison, incubation with imatinib and nilotinib was associated with centrosome aberrations but not with defects of spindle formation and G1 arrest. PP2 induced S-phase arrest; centrosome aberrations were observed at higher dosages (1–2 μM) only, spindle formation was not affected. INNO-406 was associated with both centrosome aberrations and disturbed spindle formation. In pharmacological doses, proliferation of BCR-ABL neg. cell lines was inhibited after dasatinib treatment, but not after incubation with imatinib, nilotinib, PP2, or INNO-406. In conclusion, dasatinib blocks the G1/S transition and thereby inhibits cell growth in normal and neoplastic cells. In addition, it induces both centrosomal and spindle aberrations. Effects of dasatinib are not based on SRC inhibition alone but may be associated with the combination of SRC and ABL inhibition or with non-specific effects on multiple kinases. Therefore, dasatinib should be defined as a cytostatic drug with a strong targeted component resulting in a preferential inhibition of cells harboring a specific target, like BCR-ABL.

The Xenopus protein kinase pEg2 associates with the centrosome in a cell cycle-dependent manner, binds to the spindle microtubules and is involved in bipolar mitotic spindle assembly

1998 ◽  
Vol 111 (5) ◽  
pp. 557-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Roghi ◽  
R. Giet ◽  
R. Uzbekov ◽  
N. Morin ◽  
I. Chartrain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Pericentriolar Material ◽  
Spindle Microtubules ◽  
Cycle Dependent

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.

scholarly journals Akt-Dependent Phosphorylation of p21Cip1 Regulates PCNA Binding and Proliferation of Endothelial Cells

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 5644-5657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lothar Rössig ◽  
Amir S. Jadidi ◽  
Carmen Urbich ◽  
Cornel Badorff ◽  
Andreas M. Zeiher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Intracellular Localization ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Endothelial Cell Proliferation ◽  
Inhibitory Protein ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Biochemical Fractionation ◽  
Protein Kinase Akt

ABSTRACT The protein kinase Akt is activated by growth factors and promotes cell survival and cell cycle progression. Here, we demonstrate that Akt phosphorylates the cell cycle inhibitory protein p21Cip1 at Thr 145 in vitro and in intact cells as shown by in vitro kinase assays, site-directed mutagenesis, and phospho-peptide analysis. Akt-dependent phosphorylation of p21Cip1 at Thr 145 prevents the complex formation of p21Cip1 with PCNA, which inhibits DNA replication. In addition, phosphorylation of p21Cip1 at Thr 145 decreases the binding of the cyclin-dependent kinases Cdk2 and Cdk4 to p21Cip1 and attenuates the Cdk2 inhibitory activity of p21Cip1. Immunohistochemistry and biochemical fractionation reveal that the decrease of PCNA binding and regulation of Cdk activity by p21Cip1 phosphorylation is not caused by altered intracellular localization of p21Cip1. As a functional consequence, phospho-mimetic mutagenesis of Thr 145 reverses the cell cycle-inhibitory properties of p21Cip1, whereas the nonphosphorylatable p21Cip1 T145A construct arrests cells in G0 phase. These data suggest that the modulation of p21Cip1 cell cycle functions by Akt-mediated phosphorylation regulates endothelial cell proliferation in response to stimuli that activate Akt.

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.

scholarly journals Differing requirements for Augmin in male meiotic and mitotic spindle formation in Drosophila

Open Biology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 140047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew S. Savoian ◽  
David M. Glover
Keyword(s):  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Male Meiosis ◽  
Negative Regulation ◽  
Mitotic Spindles ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Spindle Formation ◽  
Formation Pathway ◽  
Fixed Cell ◽  
Mitotic Cells

Animal cells divide using a microtubule-based, bipolar spindle. Both somatic, mitotic cells and sperm-producing male meiotic spermatocytes use centrosome-dependent and acentrosomal spindle-forming mechanisms. Here, we characterize the largely undefined, centrosome-independent spindle formation pathway used during male meiosis. Our live and fixed cell analyses of Drosophila spermatocytes reveal that acentrosomal microtubules are nucleated at kinetochores and in the vicinity of chromatin and that together these assemble into functional spindles. Mutational studies indicate that γ-tubulin and its extra-centrosomal targeting complex, Augmin, are vital for this process. In addition, Augmin facilitates efficient spindle assembly in the presence of centrosomes. In contrast to the pronounced recruitment of Augmin on spindles in other cell types, the complex is absent from those of spermatocytes but does accumulate on kinetochores. Polo kinase facilitates this kinetochore recruitment while inhibiting Augmin's spindle association, and this in turn dictates γ-tubulin distribution and spindle density. Polo's negative regulation of Augmin in male meiosis contrasts with its requirement in loading Augmin along mitotic spindles in somatic Drosophila cells. Together our data identify a novel mechanism of acentrosomal spindle formation in spermatocytes and reveal its divergence from that used in mitotic cells.

The Novel Kinesin Spindle Protein Inhibitor SB-743921 Exhibits Marked Activity In In Vivo and In Vitro In Models of Aggressive Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 118-118
Author(s):  
Danielle C Bongero ◽  
Luca Paoluzzi ◽  
Enrica Marchi ◽  
Neisa Roberto ◽  
Rafael Escandon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Tumor Volume ◽  
P Value ◽  
Kinesin Spindle Protein

Abstract Abstract 118 A mitotic spindle target that has emerged as unique and potentially restricted to the mitotic spindle is Eg5, also known as the kinesin spindle protein (KSP). SB-743921 induces mitotic spindle dysfunction and cell cycle arrest by inhibiting Eg5. Preliminary Phase 1 studies of SB-743921 have demonstrated that this compound is not associated with any neuropathy like other anti-mitotic agents. These studies have also demonstrated a potential signal in patients with relapsed and refractory lymphoma. We investigated the efficacy of SB-743921 in aggressive B-cell lymphomas to evaluate effectiveness and tolerability in germinal center (GCB) and post germinal center (ABC) diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). For cytotoxicity assays, luminescent cell viability was performed using CellTiter-Glo™ followed by acquisition with Biotek Synergy HT. The IC50s were calculated using the Calcusyn software (Biosoft). Cell Cycle was assessed by staining with Vybrant DyeCycle Green (Invitrogen) followed by FACSCalibur acquisition. Whole cell lysate proteins were extracted and quantified according to Bradford assay. After electrophoresis on a gradient 4–20% SDS-PAGE gels the proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose membrane. After blocking and incubation with the primary and the secondary antibodies, the chemiluminescent agent was added and the x-ray films were exposed to the membranes. In vivo experiments were performed with five to 7-week-old severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) beige mice (Taconic Laboratories, Germantown, NY) injected with 1 × 107 Ly1-DLBCL cells on the flank via a subcutaneous (SQ) route. When tumor volumes approached 80 mm3, mice were separated into cohorts of ten mice each. Tumors were assessed using the two largest perpendicular axes (l, length; w, width) as measured with standard calipers. Tumor volume was calculated using the formula 4/3 r3, where r=(l + w) / 4. Tumor-bearing mice were assessed for weight loss and tumor volume at least twice weekly. The IC50 values for SB-743921 across a panel of different DLBCL lines are listed in table 1. Cell cycle analysis showed that compared to the untreated group, after treatment with 100nM of SB 743921 the percentage of GCB cells in G2/M phase increased from 17.6% to 40.3% (+129%) in Ly7, 23.9% to 40.7 % (+70%) in Sudhl6 and from 17.55% to 32.4% (+85%) in Ly1. In comparison, the percent increase of cells in G2/M for the ABC lines was statistically less (p-value 0.001). For example, Ly10 increased from 15% to 27.6% (+45%), Riva from 29.3% to 36.95% (+26%) and Sudhl2 from 22.6% to 27.6% (+22%). Immunoblot analysis of DLBCL cells treated with SB-743921 probed for Eg5, CyclinB1, and phosphorylated BubR1 revealed that although all cells demonstrated a measurable increase in Eg5, the total Eg5 present varied from cell line to cell line. The In vivo xenograft experiment was conducted with the GCB Ly1 cell line and consisted of 4 cohorts; one control and 3 treatments with doses of 2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg. SB-743921 was administered by the intraperitoneal route on days 1, 5, and 9 on a 23 day cycle for 2 cycles. The graph below displays the inhibition of tumor growth in the cohorts after treatment with SB-74321. All 3 cohorts had a p-value of <0.001 relative to the control. In conclusion, SB-743921 is promising as a single agent for treatment of DLBCL. Future studies exploring the specific cell cycle features of different cell lines with respect to their check-point control will afford new opportunities to better understand the mechanisms of increased resistance in ABC compared to GCB. The data suggests SB 743921 overall is effective in the treatment of DLBCL both in vitro and in vivo. Further studies exploring potential synergistic interactions with conventional chemotherapeutic agents as well as establishing the most effective treatment schedules for the agent may provide a new approach to treating these diseases. Disclosures: Escandon: Cytokinetics: Employment. Wood:Cytokinetics: Employment. O'Connor:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

scholarly journals The roles of Fzy/Cdc20 and Fzr/Cdh1 in regulating the destruction of cyclin B in space and time

2002 ◽  
Vol 157 (7) ◽  
pp. 1139-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan W. Raff ◽  
Kim Jeffers ◽  
Jun-yong Huang
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Triple Point ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Cyclin B ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Point Mutant ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Drosophila Cells

In Drosophila cells cyclin B is normally degraded in two phases: (a) destruction of the spindle-associated cyclin B initiates at centrosomes and spreads to the spindle equator; and (b) any remaining cytoplasmic cyclin B is degraded slightly later in mitosis. We show that the APC/C regulators Fizzy (Fzy)/Cdc20 and Fzy-related (Fzr)/Cdh1 bind to microtubules in vitro and associate with spindles in vivo. Fzy/Cdc20 is concentrated at kinetochores and centrosomes early in mitosis, whereas Fzr/Cdh1 is concentrated at centrosomes throughout the cell cycle. In syncytial embryos, only Fzy/Cdc20 is present, and only the spindle-associated cyclin B is degraded at the end of mitosis. A destruction box–mutated form of cyclin B (cyclin B triple-point mutant [CBTPM]–GFP) that cannot be targeted for destruction by Fzy/Cdc20, is no longer degraded on spindles in syncytial embryos. However, CBTPM–GFP can be targeted for destruction by Fzr/Cdh1. In cellularized embryos, which normally express Fzr/Cdh1, CBTPM–GFP is degraded throughout the cell but with slowed kinetics. These findings suggest that Fzy/Cdc20 is responsible for catalyzing the first phase of cyclin B destruction that occurs on the mitotic spindle, whereas Fzr/Cdh1 is responsible for catalyzing the second phase of cyclin B destruction that occurs throughout the cell. These observations have important implications for the mechanisms of the spindle checkpoint.

scholarly journals Cell Cycle Synchrony in Giardia intestinalis Cultures Achieved by Using Nocodazole and Aphidicolin

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne K. Poxleitner ◽  
Scott C. Dawson ◽  
W. Zacheus Cande
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Giardia Intestinalis ◽  
Mitotic Spindles ◽  
Intestinal Protozoan ◽  
Cycle Arrest ◽  
Cycle Dependent ◽  
Dependent Processes

ABSTRACT Giardia intestinalis is a ubiquitous intestinal protozoan parasite and has been proposed to represent the earliest diverging lineage of extant eukaryotes. Despite the importance of Giardia as a model organism, research on Giardia has been hampered by an inability to achieve cell cycle synchrony for in vitro cultures. This report details successful methods for attaining cell cycle synchrony in Giardia cultures. The research presented here demonstrates reversible cell cycle arrest in G1/S and G2/M with aphidicolin and nocodazole, respectively. Following synchronization, cells were able to recover completely from drug treatment and remained viable and maintained synchronous growth for 6 h. These techniques were used to synchronize Giardia cultures to increase the percentages of mitotic spindles in the cultures. This method of synchronization will enhance our ability to study cell cycle-dependent processes in G. intestinalis.

scholarly journals The Nek6 and Nek7 Protein Kinases Are Required for Robust Mitotic Spindle Formation and Cytokinesis

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (14) ◽  
pp. 3975-3990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura O'Regan ◽  
Andrew M. Fry
Keyword(s):  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ◽  
Mitotic Spindles ◽  
Mitotic Progression ◽  
Serine Threonine Kinase ◽  
Spindle Formation ◽  
Spindle Poles ◽  
And Function ◽  
Interfering Rna ◽  
Reduced Activity

ABSTRACT Nek6 and Nek7 are members of the NIMA-related serine/threonine kinase family. Previous work showed that they contribute to mitotic progression downstream of another NIMA-related kinase, Nek9, although the roles of these different kinases remain to be defined. Here, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of the regulation and function of Nek6 and Nek7 in human cells. By generating specific antibodies, we show that both Nek6 and Nek7 are activated in mitosis and that interfering with their activity by either depletion or expression of reduced-activity mutants leads to mitotic arrest and apoptosis. Interestingly, while completely inactive mutants and small interfering RNA-mediated depletion delay cells at metaphase with fragile mitotic spindles, hypomorphic mutants or RNA interference treatment combined with a spindle assembly checkpoint inhibitor delays cells at cytokinesis. Importantly, depletion of either Nek6 or Nek7 leads to defective mitotic progression, indicating that although highly similar, they are not redundant. Indeed, while both kinases localize to spindle poles, only Nek6 obviously localizes to spindle microtubules in metaphase and anaphase and to the midbody during cytokinesis. Together, these data lead us to propose that Nek6 and Nek7 play independent roles not only in robust mitotic spindle formation but also potentially in cytokinesis.

scholarly journals The growth-related, translationally controlled protein P23 has properties of a tubulin binding protein and associates transiently with microtubules during the cell cycle

1999 ◽  
Vol 112 (8) ◽  
pp. 1257-1271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Gachet ◽  
S. Tournier ◽  
M. Lee ◽  
A. Lazaris-Karatzas ◽  
T. Poulton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Tubulin Binding ◽  
Cycle Dependent ◽  
Almost All

The translationally controlled protein P23 was discovered by the early induction of its rate of synthesis after mitogenic stimulation of mouse fibroblasts. P23 is expressed in almost all mammalian tissues and it is highly conserved between animals, plants and yeast. Based on its amino acid sequence, P23 cannot be attributed to any known protein family, and its cellular function remains to be elucidated. Here, we present evidence that P23 has properties of a tubulin binding protein that associates with microtubules in a cell cycle-dependent manner. (1) P23 is a cytoplasmic protein that occurs in complexes of 100–150 kDa, and part of P23 can be immunoprecipitated from HeLa cell extracts with anti-tubulin antibodies. (2) In immunolocalisation experiments we find P23 associated with microtubules during G1, S, G2 and early M phase of the cell cycle. At metaphase, P23 is also bound to the mitotic spindle, and it is detached from the spindle during metaphase-anaphase transition. (3) A GST-P23 fusion protein interacts with alpha- and beta-tubulin, and recombinant P23 binds to taxol-stabilised microtubules in vitro. The tubulin binding domain of P23 was identified by mutational analysis; it shows similarity to part of the tubulin binding domain of the microtubule-associated protein MAP-1B. (4) Overexpression of P23 results in cell growth retardation and in alterations of cell morphology. Moreover, elevation of P23 levels leads to microtubule rearrangements and to an increase in microtubule mass and stability.

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