Polo-Like Kinase 1 phosphorylation tunes the functional viscoelastic properties of the centrosome scaffold.

ABSTRACT: Centrosomes are membranelles organelles containing centrioles encapsulated by pericentriolar material (PCM). PCM nucleates microtubules that help position and segregate chromosomes during mitosis, yet how PCM resists microtubule-mediated forces is poorly understood at the material level. Here, we show that PLK-1 phosphorylation of SPD-5 tunes the dynamics and material properties of the PCM scaffold in C. elegans embryo s. Microrheology of reconstituted PCM condensates reveals that PLK-1 phosphorylation decreases SPD-5 dynamics and increases condensate viscoelasticity. Similarly, in embryos, phospho-mimetic SPD-5 is less dynamic than wild-type SPD-5, which itself is less dynamic than phospho-null SPD-5. PCM built with phospho-null SPD-5 is smaller than normal, but its assembly

SUBMITTER: Amato M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12262263 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature