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  • Pre-anaphase chromosome oscillations are regulated by the antagonistic activities of Cdk1 and PP1 on Kif18A.

Pre-anaphase chromosome oscillations are regulated by the antagonistic activities of Cdk1 and PP1 on Kif18A.

Nature communications (2014-07-23)
Julia Häfner, Monika I Mayr, Martin M Möckel, Thomas U Mayer
ABSTRACT

Upon congression at the spindle equator, vertebrate chromosomes display oscillatory movements which typically decline as cells progress towards anaphase. Kinesin-8 Kif18A has been identified as a suppressor of chromosome movements, but how its activity is temporally regulated to dampen chromosome oscillations before anaphase onset remained mysterious. Here, we identify a regulatory network composed of cyclin-dependent kinase-1 (Cdk1) and protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) that antagonistically regulate Kif18A. Cdk1-mediated inhibitory phosphorylation of Kif18A promotes chromosome oscillations in early metaphase. PP1 induces metaphase plate thinning by directly dephosphorylating Kif18A. Chromosome attachment induces Cdk1 inactivation and kinetochore recruitment of PP1α/γ. Thus, we propose that chromosome biorientation mediates the alignment of chromosomes at the metaphase plate by tipping the balance in favour of dephosphorylated Kif18A capable of suppressing the oscillatory movements of chromosomes. Notably, interfering with chromosome oscillations severely impairs the fidelity of sister chromatid segregation demonstrating the importance of timely controlled chromosome dynamics for the maintenance of genome integrity.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-α-Tubulin antibody, Mouse monoclonal, clone DM1A, purified from hybridoma cell culture
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-PP1γ1 Antibody, Upstate®, from rabbit
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Cyclin B1 Antibody, clone GNS3 (8A5D12), clone GNS3 (8A5D12), Upstate®, from mouse