Spatiotemporal control of mitosis by the conserved spindle matrix protein Megator

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

Lince Faria, M (Author) Other; Maffini, S (Author) Other; Orr, B (Author) Other; Ding, Y (Author) Other; Florindo, C (Author) Other; Sunkel, CE (Author) ICBAS; Tavares, A (Author) Other; Johansen, J (Author) Other; Johansen, KM (Author) Other; Helder Maiato (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Cell Biology

Vol. 184

Pages: 647-657

ISSN: 0021-9525

Publisher: Rockefeller University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 93 Citations

Scopus - 94 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-MJ0

DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200811012

Abstract (EN): A putative spindle matrix has been hypothesized to mediate chromosome motion, but its existence and functionality remain controversial. In this report, we show that Megator (Mtor), the Drosophila melanogaster counterpart of the human nuclear pore complex protein translocated promoter region (Tpr), and the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) protein Mad2 form a conserved complex that localizes to a nuclear derived spindle matrix in living cells. Fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching experiments supports that Mtor is retained around spindle microtubules, where it shows distinct dynamic properties. Mtor/Tpr promotes the recruitment of Mad2 and Mps1 but not Mad1 to unattached kineto-chores (KTs), mediating normal mitotic duration and SAC response. At anaphase, Mtor plays a role in spindle elongation, thereby affecting normal chromosome movement. We propose that Mtor/Tpr functions as a spatial regulator of the SAC, which ensures the efficient recruitment of Mad2 to unattached KTs at the onset of mitosis and proper spindle maturation, whereas enrichment of Mad2 in a spindle matrix helps confine the action of a diffusible "wait anaphase" signal to the vicinity of the spindle.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11