Dynein and Mast/Orbit/CLASP have antagonistic roles in regulating kinetochore-microtubule plus-end dynamics

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

Authors

Reis, R (Author) Other; Feijao, T (Author) Other; Gouveia, S (Author) Other; Pereira, AJ (Author) Other; Matos, I (Author) Other; Sampaio, P (Author) Other; Helder Maiato (Author) FMUP; Sunkel, CE (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Journal of Cell Science

Vol. 122

Pages: 2543-2553

ISSN: 0021-9533

Publisher: The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 16 Citations

Scopus - 19 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-HGE

DOI: 10.1242/jcs.044818

Abstract (EN): Establishment and maintenance of the mitotic spindle requires the balanced activity of microtubule-associated proteins and motors. In this study we have addressed how the microtubule plus-end tracking protein Mast/Orbit/CLASP and cytoplasmic dynein regulate this process in Drosophila melanogaster embryos and S2 cells. We show that Mast accumulates at kinetochores early in mitosis, which is followed by a poleward streaming upon microtubule attachment. This leads to a reduction of Mast levels at kinetochores during metaphase and anaphase that depends largely on the microtubule minus end-directed motor cytoplasmic dynein. Surprisingly, we also found that co-depletion of Dynein rescues spindle bipolarity in Mast-depleted cells, while restoring normal microtubule poleward flux. Our results suggest that Mast and Dynein have antagonistic roles in the local regulation of microtubule plus-end dynamics at kinetochores, which are important for the maintenance of spindle bipolarity and normal spindle length.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11