Project description:The minus ends of spindle microtubules are anchored to a microtubule-organizing center. The conserved Msd1/SSX2IP proteins are localized to the spindle pole body (SPB) and the centrosome in fission yeast and humans, respectively, and play a critical role in microtubule anchoring. In this paper, we show that fission yeast Msd1 forms a ternary complex with another conserved protein, Wdr8, and the minus end-directed Pkl1/kinesin-14. Individual deletion mutants displayed the identical spindle-protrusion phenotypes. Msd1 and Wdr8 were delivered by Pkl1 to mitotic SPBs, where Pkl1 was tethered through Msd1-Wdr8. The spindle-anchoring defect imposed by msd1/wdr8/pkl1 deletions was suppressed by a mutation of the plus end-directed Cut7/kinesin-5, which was shown to be mutual. Intriguingly, Pkl1 motor activity was not required for its anchoring role once targeted to the SPB. Therefore, spindle anchoring through Msd1-Wdr8-Pkl1 is crucial for balancing the Cut7/kinesin-5-mediated outward force at the SPB. Our analysis provides mechanistic insight into the spatiotemporal regulation of two opposing kinesins to ensure mitotic spindle bipolarity.
Project description:In fission yeast, γ-tubulin ring complex (γTuRC)-specific components Gfh1(GCP4), Mod21(GCP5), and Alp16(GCP6) are nonessential for cell growth. Of these deletion mutants, only alp16Δ shows synthetic lethality with temperature-sensitive mutants of Mzt1(MOZART1), a component of the γTuRC required for recruitment of the complex to microtubule-organizing centers. γ-Tubulin small complex levels at mitotic spindle pole bodies (SPBs, the centrosome equivalent in fungi) and microtubule levels for preanaphase spindles are significantly reduced in alp16Δ cells but not in gfh1Δ or mod21Δ cells. Furthermore, alp16Δ cells often form monopolar spindles and frequently lose a minichromosome when the spindle assembly checkpoint is inactivated. Alp16(GCP6) promotes Mzt1-dependent γTuRC recruitment to mitotic SPBs and enhances spindle microtubule assembly in a manner dependent on its expression levels. Gfh1(GCP4) and Mod21(GCP5) are not required for Alp16(GCP6)-dependent γTuRC recruitment. Mzt1 has an additional role in the activation of the γTuRC for spindle microtubule assembly. The ratio of Mzt1 to γTuRC levels for preanaphase spindles is higher than at other stages of the cell cycle. Mzt1 overproduction enhances spindle microtubule assembly without affecting γTuRC levels at mitotic SPBs. We propose that Alp16(GCP6) and Mzt1 act synergistically for efficient bipolar spindle assembly to ensure faithful chromosome segregation.
Project description:Many organisms divide chromosomes within the confines of the nuclear envelope (NE) in a process known as closed mitosis. Thus, they must ensure coordination between segregation of the genetic material and division of the NE itself. Although many years of work have led to a reasonably clear understanding of mitotic spindle function in chromosome segregation, the NE division mechanism remains obscure. Here, we show that fission yeast cells overexpressing the transforming acid coiled coil (TACC)-related protein, Mia1p/Alp7p, failed to separate the spindle pole bodies (SPBs) at the onset of mitosis, but could assemble acentrosomal bipolar and antiparallel spindle structures. Most of these cells arrested in anaphase with fully extended spindles and nonsegregated chromosomes. Spindle poles that lacked the SPBs did not lead the division of the NE during spindle elongation, but deformed it, trapping the chromosomes within. When the SPBs were severed by laser microsurgery in wild-type cells, we observed analogous deformations of the NE by elongating spindle remnants, resulting in NE division failure. Analysis of dis1Delta cells that elongate spindles despite unattached kinetochores indicated that the SPBs were required for maintaining nuclear shape at anaphase onset. Strikingly, when the NE was disassembled by utilizing a temperature-sensitive allele of the Ran GEF, Pim1p, the abnormal spindles induced by Mia1p overexpression were capable of segregating sister chromatids to daughter cells, suggesting that the failure to divide the NE prevents chromosome partitioning. Our results imply that the SPBs preclude deformation of the NE during spindle elongation and thus serve as specialized structures enabling nuclear division during closed mitosis in fission yeast.
Project description:During meiosis, the centrosome/spindle pole body (SPB) must be regulated in a manner distinct from that of mitosis to achieve a specialized cell division that will produce gametes. In this paper, we demonstrate that several SPB components are localized to SPBs in a meiosis-specific manner in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. SPB components, such as Cut12, Pcp1, and Spo15, which stay on the SPB during the mitotic cell cycle, disassociate from the SPB during meiotic prophase and then return to the SPB immediately before the onset of meiosis I. Interestingly, the polo kinase Plo1, which normally localizes to the SPB during mitosis, is excluded from them in meiotic prophase, when meiosis-specific, horse-tail nuclear movement occurs. We found that exclusion of Plo1 during this period was essential to properly remodel SPBs, because artificial targeting of Plo1 to SPBs resulted in an overduplication of SPBs. We also found that the centrin Cdc31 was required for meiotic SPB remodeling. Thus Plo1 and a centrin play central roles in the meiotic SPB remodeling, which is essential for generating the proper number of meiotic SPBs and, thereby provide unique characteristics to meiotic divisions.
Project description:Bipolar spindles are organized by motor proteins that generate microtubule--dependent forces to separate the two spindle poles. The fission yeast Cut7 (kinesin-5) is a plus-end-directed motor that generates the outward force to separate the two spindle poles, whereas the minus-end-directed motor Pkl1 (kinesin-14) generates the inward force. Balanced forces by these antagonizing kinesins are essential for bipolar spindle organization in mitosis. Here, we demonstrate that chromosomes generate another outward force that contributes to the bipolar spindle assembly. First, it was noted that the cut7 pkl1 double knockout failed to separate spindle poles in meiosis I, although the mutant is known to succeed it in mitosis. It was assumed that this might be because meiotic kinetochores of bivalent chromosomes joined by cross-overs generate weaker tensions in meiosis I than the strong tensions in mitosis generated by tightly tethered sister kinetochores. In line with this idea, when meiotic mono-oriented kinetochores were artificially converted to a mitotic bioriented layout, the cut7 pkl1 mutant successfully separated spindle poles in meiosis I. Therefore, we propose that spindle pole separation is promoted by outward forces transmitted from kinetochores to spindle poles through microtubules.
Project description:The conserved TACC protein family localises to the centrosome (the spindle pole body, SPB in fungi) and mitotic spindles, thereby playing a crucial role in bipolar spindle assembly. However, it remains elusive how TACC proteins are recruited to the centrosome/SPB. Here, using fission yeast Alp7/TACC, we have determined clustered five amino acid residues within the TACC domain required for SPB localisation. Critically, these sequences are essential for the functions of Alp7, including proper spindle formation and mitotic progression. Moreover, we have identified pericentrin-like Pcp1 as a loading factor to the mitotic SPB, although Pcp1 is not a sole platform.
Project description:The spindle pole body (SPB) of Schizosaccharomyces pombe is required for assembly of the forespore membrane (FSM) during meiosis. Before de novo biogenesis of the FSM, the meiotic SPB forms outer plaques, an event referred to as SPB modification. A constitutive SPB component, Spo15, plays an indispensable role in SPB modification and sporulation. Here, we analyzed two sporulation-specific genes, spo13(+) and spo2(+), which are not required for progression of meiotic nuclear divisions, but are essential for sporulation. Spo13 is a 16-kDa coiled-coil protein, and Spo2 is a 15-kDa nonconserved protein. Both Spo13 and Spo2 specifically associated with the meiotic SPB. The respective deletion mutants are viable, but defective in SPB modification and in the onset of FSM formation. Spo13 and Spo2 localized on the cytoplasmic side of the SPB in close contact with the nascent FSM. Localization of Spo13 to the SPB was dependent on Spo15 and Spo2; that of Spo2 depended only on Spo15, suggesting that their recruitment to the SPB is strictly controlled. Spo2 physically associated with both Spo15 and Spo13, but Spo13 and Spo15 did not interact directly. Taken together, these observations indicate that Spo2 is recruited to the SPB during meiosis and then assists in the localization of Spo13 to the outer surface of the SPB.
Project description:Centrosomes and spindle pole bodies (SPBs) are important for mitotic spindle formation and serve as cellular signaling platforms. Although centrosomes and SPBs differ in morphology, many mechanistic insights into centrosome function have been gleaned from SPB studies. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the α-helical protein Ppc89, identified based on its interaction with the septation initiation network scaffold Sid4, comprises the SPB core. High-resolution imaging has suggested that SPB proteins assemble on the Ppc89 core during SPB duplication, but such interactions are undefined. Here, we define a connection between Ppc89 and the essential pericentrin Pcp1. Specifically, we found that a predicted third helix within Ppc89 binds the Pcp1 pericentrin-AKAP450 centrosomal targeting (PACT) domain complexed with calmodulin. Ppc89 helix 3 contains similarity to present in the N-terminus of Cep57 (PINC) motifs found in the centrosomal proteins fly SAS-6 and human Cep57 and also to the S. cerevisiae SPB protein Spc42. These motifs bind pericentrin-calmodulin complexes and AlphaFold2 models suggest a homologous complex assembles in all four organisms. Mutational analysis of the S. pombe complex supports the importance of Ppc89-Pcp1 binding interface in vivo. Our studies provide insight into the core architecture of the S. pombe SPB and suggest an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of scaffolding pericentrin-calmodulin complexes for mitotic spindle formation.
Project description:The Schizosaccharomyces pombe septation initiation network (SIN) signals the onset of cell division from the spindle pole body (SPB) and is regulated by the small GTPase Spg1p. The localization of SIN components including Spg1p to the SPB is required for cytokinesis and is dependent on Sid4p, a constitutive resident of SPBs. However, a direct interaction between Sid4p and other members of the SIN has not been detected. To understand how Sid4p is linked to other SIN components, we have begun to characterize an S. pombe homolog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SPB protein Nud1p. We have determined that this S. pombe Nud1p homolog corresponds to Cdc11p, a previously uncharacterized SIN element. We report that Cdc11p is present constitutively at SPBs and that its function appears to be required for the localization of all other SIN components to SPBs with the exception of Sid4p. The Cdc11p C terminus localizes the protein to SPBs in a Sid4p-dependent manner, and we demonstrate a direct Cdc11p-Sid4p interaction. The N-terminus of Cdc11p is required for Spg1p binding to SPBs. Our studies indicate that Cdc11p provides a physical link between Sid4p and the Spg1p signaling pathway.
Project description:Characterizing protein-protein interactions is essential for understanding molecular mechanisms, although reproducing cellular conditions in vitro is challenging and some proteins are difficult to purify. We developed a method to measure binding to cellular structures using fission yeast cells as reaction vessels. We varied the concentrations of Sid2p and Mob1p (proteins of the septation initiation network) and measured their binding to spindle pole bodies (SPBs), the centrosome equivalent of yeast. From our measurements we infer that Sid2p and Mob1p both exist as monomeric, heterodimeric, and homodimeric species throughout the cell cycle. During interphase these species have widely different affinities for their common receptor Cdc11p on the SPB. The data support a model with a subset of Cdc11p binding the heterodimeric species with a Kd < 0.1 μM when Sid2p binds Mob1p-Cdc11p and Kd in the micromolar range when Mob1p binds Sid2p-Cdc11p. During mitosis an additional species presumed to be the phosphorylated Sid2p-Mob1p heterodimer binds SPBs with a lower affinity. Homodimers of Sid2p or Mob1p bind to the rest of Cdc11p at SPBs with lower affinity: Kds > 10 μM during interphase and somewhat stronger during mitosis. These measurements allowed us to account for the fluctuations in Sid2p binding to SPBs throughout the cell cycle.