Polo-Like Kinase 1 Phosphorylation Tunes the Functional Viscoelastic Properties of the Centrosome Scaffold.

ABSTRACT: Cytoskeleton-organizing organelles often function while under mechanical load. The outer layer of centrosomes, called pericentriolar material (PCM), nucleates microtubules that move chromosomes during mitosis. How PCM resists microtubule-mediated forces is poorly understood at the material level. This study shows that PLK-1 phosphorylation of SPD-5 tunes the dynamics and material properties of the PCM scaffold in C. elegans embryos. Microrheology of reconstituted SPD-5 scaffolds reveals that PLK-1 phosphorylation decreases SPD-5 dynamics and increases scaffold 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 can

SUBMITTER: Amato M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12677620 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature