The microtubule-severing enzyme spastin regulates spindle dynamics to promote chromosome segregation in <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i>.

ABSTRACT: Microtubule-severing enzymes play essential roles in regulating diverse cellular processes, including mitosis and cytokinesis, by modulating microtubule dynamics. In the early branching protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, microtubule-severing enzymes are involved in cytokinesis and flagellum length control during different life cycle stages, but none of them have been found to regulate mitosis in any life cycle form. Here, we report the biochemical and functional characterization of the microtubule-severing enzyme spastin in the procyclic form of T. brucei. We demonstrate that spastin catalyzes microtubule severing in vitro and ectopic overexpression of spastin disrupts spindle microtubules in vivo in trypanosome cells, leading to defective chromosome segrega

SUBMITTER: Onofre TS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11722300 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature