Fission yeast Pak1 phosphorylates anillin-like Mid1 for spatial control of cytokinesis.

ABSTRACT: Protein kinases direct polarized growth by regulating the cytoskeleton in time and space and could play similar roles in cell division. We found that the Cdc42-activated polarity kinase Pak1 colocalizes with the assembling contractile actomyosin ring (CAR) and remains at the division site during septation. Mutations in pak1 led to defects in CAR assembly and genetic interactions with cytokinesis mutants. Through a phosphoproteomic screen, we identified novel Pak1 substrates that function in polarized growth and cytokinesis. For cytokinesis, we found that Pak1 regulates the localization of its substrates Mid1 and Cdc15 to the CAR. Mechanistically, Pak1 phosphorylates the Mid1 N-terminus to promote its association with cortical nodes that act as CAR precursors. Defects in Pak1-Mid1 signaling

SUBMITTER: Magliozzi JO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7401808 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature