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Spindle multipolarity is prevented by centrosomal clustering.

Most tumor cells are characterized by increased genomic instability and chromosome segregational defects, often associated with hyperamplification of the centrosome and the formation of multipolar spindles. However, extra centrosomes do not always lead to multipolarity. Here, we describe a process of centrosomal clustering that prevented the formation of multipolar spindles in noncancer cells. Noncancer cells needed to overcome this clustering mechanism to allow multipolar spindles to form at a high frequency. The microtubule motor cytoplasmic dynein was a critical part of this coalescing machinery, and in some tumor cells overexpression of the spindle protein NuMA interfered with dynein localization, promoting multipolarity.

Antigens, Nuclear↗

Targeting of motor proteins.

Microtubules are responsible for chromosome segregation and the movement and reorganization of membranous organelles. Many aspects of microtubule-based motility can be attributed to the action of motor proteins, producing force directed toward either end of microtubules. How these proteins are targeted to the appropriate organellar sites within the cell, however, has remained a mystery. Recent work has begun to define the targeting mechanism for two well-studied motor proteins, kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein.

Animals↗

Microtubule- and dynein-mediated movement of Orientia tsutsugamushi to the microtubule organizing center.

The host cell microfilaments and microtubules (MTs) are known to play a critical role in the life cycles of several pathogenic intracellular microbes by providing for successful invasion and promoting movement of the pathogen once inside the host cell cytoplasm. Orientia tsutsugamushi, an obligate intracellular bacterium, enters host cells by induced phagocytosis, escapes to the cytosol, and then replicates in the cytosol. ECV304 cells infected with O. tsutsugamushi revealed the colocalization of the MT organizing center (MTOC) and cytosolic orientiae by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Using immunofluorescence microscopy in the presence and absence of MT-depolymerizing agents (colchicine and nocodazole), it was shown that the cytosolic oriential movement was mediated by MTs. By transfection study (overexpression of dynamitin [also called p50], which is known to associate with dynein-dependent movement), the movement of O. tsutsugamushi to the MTOC was also mediated by dynein, the minus-end-directed MT-related motor. Although the significance of this movement in the life cycle of O. tsutsugamushi was not proven, we propose that the cytosolic O. tsutsugamushi bacteria use MTs and dyneins to propel themselves from the cell periphery to the MTOC.

Cell Line↗

Eclipse phase of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection: Efficient dynein-mediated capsid transport without the small capsid protein VP26.

Cytoplasmic dynein,together with its cofactor dynactin, transports incoming herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) capsids along microtubules (MT) to the MT-organizing center (MTOC). From the MTOC, capsids move further to the nuclear pore, where the viral genome is released into the nucleoplasm. The small capsid protein VP26 can interact with the dynein light chains Tctex1 (DYNLT1) and rp3 (DYNLT3) and may recruit dynein to the capsid. Therefore, we analyzed nuclear targeting of incoming HSV1-DeltaVP26 capsids devoid of VP26 and of HSV1-GFPVP26 capsids expressing a GFPVP26 fusion instead of VP26. To compare the cell entry of different strains, we characterized the inocula with respect to infectivity, viral genome content, protein composition, and particle composition. Preparations with a low particle-to-PFU ratio showed efficient nuclear targeting and were considered to be of higher quality than those containing many defective particles, which were unable to induce plaque formation. When cells were infected with HSV-1 wild type, HSV1-DeltaVP26, or HSV1-GFPVP26, viral capsids were transported along MT to the nucleus. Moreover, when dynein function was inhibited by overexpression of the dynactin subunit dynamitin, fewer capsids of HSV-1 wild type, HSV1-DeltaVP26, and HSV1-GFPVP26 arrived at the nucleus. Thus, even in the absence of the potential viral dynein receptor VP26, HSV-1 used MT and dynein for efficient nuclear targeting. These data suggest that besides VP26, HSV-1 encodes other receptors for dynein or dynactin.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

Improvement in nuclear entry and transgene expression of baculoviruses by disintegration of microtubules in human hepatocytes.

Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), a potent virus for mammalian cell gene delivery, possesses an ability to transduce mammalian cells without viral replication. We examined the role of the cellular cytoskeleton in the cytoplasmic trafficking of viral particles toward the nucleus in human hepatic cells. Microscopic studies showed that capsids were found in the nucleus after either viral inoculation or cytoplasmic microinjection of nucleocapsids. The presence of microtubule (MT) depolymerizing agents caused the amount of nuclear capsids to increase. Overexpression of p50/dynamitin, an inhibitor of dynein-dependent endocytic trafficking from peripheral endosomes along MTs toward late endosomes, did not significantly affect the amount of nuclear accumulation of nucleocapsids in the inoculated cells, suggesting that viral nucleocapsids are released into the cytosol during the early stages of the endocytic pathway. Moreover, studies with recombinant viruses containing the nuclear-targeted expression beta-galactosidase gene (beta-gal) showed a markedly increased level in the cellular expression of beta-galactosidase in the presence of MT-disintegrating drugs. The maximal increase in expression at 10 h postinoculation was observed in the presence of 80 muM nocodazole or 10 muM vinblastine. Together, these data suggest that the intact MTs constitute a barrier to baculovirus transport toward the nucleus.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

LIS1, CLIP-170's key to the dynein/dynactin pathway.

CLIP-170 is a plus-end tracking protein which may act as an anticatastrophe factor. It has been proposed to mediate the association of dynein/dynactin to microtubule (MT) plus ends, and it also binds to kinetochores in a dynein/dynactin-dependent fashion, both via its C-terminal domain. This domain contains two zinc finger motifs (proximal and distal), which are hypothesized to mediate protein-protein interactions. LIS1, a protein implicated in brain development, acts in several processes mediated by the dynein/dynactin pathway by interacting with dynein and other proteins. Here we demonstrate colocalization and direct interaction between CLIP-170 and LIS1. In mammalian cells, LIS1 recruitment to kinetochores is dynein/dynactin dependent, and recruitment there of CLIP-170 is dependent on its site of binding to LIS1, located in the distal zinc finger motif. Overexpression of CLIP-170 results in a zinc finger-dependent localization of a phospho-LIS1 isoform and dynactin to MT bundles, raising the possibility that CLIP-170 and LIS1 regulate dynein/dynactin binding to MTs. This work suggests that LIS1 is a regulated adapter between CLIP-170 and cytoplasmic dynein at sites involved in cargo-MT loading, and/or in the control of MT dynamics.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

Silencing mitosin induces misaligned chromosomes, premature chromosome decondensation before anaphase onset, and mitotic cell death.

Mitosin (also named CENP-F) is a large human nuclear protein transiently associated with the outer kinetochore plate in M phase. Using RNA interference and fluorescence microscopy, we showed that mitosin depletion attenuated chromosome congression and led to metaphase arrest with misaligned polar chromosomes whose kinetochores showed few cold-stable microtubules. Kinetochores of fully aligned chromosomes often failed to show orientation in the direction of the spindle long axis. Moreover, tension across their sister kinetochores was decreased by 53% on average. These phenotypes collectively imply defects in motor functions in mitosin-depleted cells and are similar to those of CENP-E depletion. Consistently, the intensities of CENP-E and cytoplasmic dynein and dynactin, which are motors controlling microtubule attachment and chromosome movement, were reduced at the kinetochore in a microtubule-dependent manner. In addition, after being arrested in pseudometaphase for approximately 2 h, mitosin-depleted cells died before anaphase initiation through apoptosis. The dying cells exhibited progressive chromosome arm decondensation, while the centromeres were still associated with spindles. Mitosin is therefore essential for full chromosome alignment, possibly by promoting proper kinetochore attachments through modulating CENP-E and dynein functions. Its depletion also prematurely triggers chromosome decondensation, a process that normally occurs from telophase for the nucleus reassembly, thus resulting in apoptosis.

Anaphase↗

Point mutations of the p150 subunit of dynactin (DCTN1) gene in ALS.

The authors report mutation screening of the p150 subunit of dynactin (DCTN1) and the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain (DNCHC1) genes in 250 patients with ALS and 150 unrelated control subjects. Heterozygous missense mutations of the DCTN1 gene were detected in one apparently sporadic case of ALS (T1249I), one individual with familial ALS (M571T), two patients with familial ALS, and two unaffected relatives in the same kindred (R785W). The allelic variants of the DCTN1 gene may represent a previously unknown genomic risk factor for ALS.

Aged↗

Rapid transport of neural intermediate filament protein.

Peripherin is a neural intermediate filament protein that is expressed in peripheral and enteric neurons, as well as in PC12 cells. A determination of the motile properties of peripherin has been undertaken in PC12 cells during different stages of neurite outgrowth. The results reveal that non-filamentous, non-membrane bound peripherin particles and short peripherin intermediate filaments, termed 'squiggles', are transported at high speed throughout PC12 cell bodies, neurites and growth cones. These movements are bi-directional, and the majority require microtubules along with their associated molecular motors, conventional kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein. Our data demonstrate that peripherin particles and squiggles can move as components of a rapid transport system capable of delivering cytoskeletal subunits to the most distal regions of neurites over relatively short time periods.

Animals↗

Cytoplasmic dynein in fungi: insights from nuclear migration.

Cytoplasmic dynein is a microtubule motor that mediates various biological processes, including nuclear migration and organelle transport, by moving on microtubules while associated with various cellular structures. The association of dynein with cellular structures and the activation of its motility are crucial steps in dynein-dependent processes. However, the mechanisms involved remain largely unknown. In fungi, dynein is required for nuclear migration. In budding yeast, nuclear migration is driven by the interaction of astral microtubules with the cell cortex; the interaction is mediated by dynein that is probably associated with the cortex. Recent studies suggest that budding yeast dynein is first recruited to microtubules, then delivered to the cortex by microtubules and finally activated by association with the cortex. Nuclear migration in many other fungi is probably driven by a similar mechanism. Recruitment of dynein to microtubules and its subsequent activation upon association with cellular structures are perhaps common to many dynein-dependent eukaryotic processes, including organelle transport.

Biological Transport↗

lis-1 is required for dynein-dependent cell division processes in C. elegans embryos.

We investigated the role of the evolutionarily conserved protein Lis1 in cell division processes of Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. We identified apparent null alleles of lis-1, which result in defects identical to those observed after inactivation of the dynein heavy chain dhc-1, including defects in centrosome separation and spindle assembly. We raised antibodies against LIS-1 and generated transgenic animals expressing functional GFP-LIS-1. Using indirect immunofluorescence and spinning-disk confocal microscopy, we found that LIS-1 is present throughout the cytoplasm and is enriched in discrete subcellular locations, including the cell cortex, the vicinity of microtubule asters, the nuclear periphery and kinetochores. We established that lis-1 contributes to, but is not essential for, DHC-1 enrichment at specific subcellular locations. Conversely, we found that dhc-1, as well as the dynactin components dnc-1 (p150Glued) and dnc-2 (p50/dynamitin), are essential for LIS-1 targeting to the nuclear periphery, but not to the cell cortex nor to kinetochores. These results suggest that dynein and Lis1, albeit functioning in identical processes, are targeted partially independently of one another.

Alleles↗

Protein 4.1R regulates interphase microtubule organization at the centrosome.

In human red blood cells, protein 4.1 (4.1R) stabilizes the spectrin-actin network and anchors it to the plasma membrane. To contribute to the characterization of functional roles of 4.1R in nonerythroid cells, we analysed the effect of ectopic expression of 4.1R isoforms on interphase microtubules in fibroblastic cells. We found that specific 4.1R isoforms disturbed the microtubule architecture but not the actin cytoskeleton. Biochemical sedimentation and/or confocal microscopy analyses showed that the pericentriolar components gamma-tubulin and pericentrin remained at centrosomes, whereas the distributions of proteins p150Glued and the dynein intermediate chain were altered. Remarkably, 4.1R was displaced from the centrosome. In microtubule depolymerizing-repolymerizing assays, 4.1R-transfected cells showed an ability to depolymerize and nucleate microtubules that was similar to that of untransfected cells; however, microtubules became disorganized soon after regrowth. In microtubule-depolymerized transfected cells and during the initial steps of microtubule regrowth, centrosomal 4.1R localized with gamma-tubulin but did not when microtubules became disorganized. To learn more about centrosomal 4.1R function, isolated centrosomes were examined by confocal microscopy, western blot and in vitro microtubule aster-assembly assays. The experiments showed that 4.1R was present in isolated centrosome preparations, that it remained in the center of in-vitro-assembled microtubule asters and that more asters were assembled by the addition of protein 4.1R fused to glutathione-S-transferase. Together, these results indicate that 4.1R plays a key role at the centrosome, contributing to the maintenance of a radial microtubule organization.

Actins↗

Real time imaging reveals a peroxisomal reticulum in living cells.

We have directly imaged the dynamic behavior of a variety of morphologically different peroxisomal structures in HepG2 and COS-7 cells transfected with a construct encoding GFP bearing the C-terminal peroxisomal targeting signal 1. Real time imaging revealed that moving peroxisomes interacted with each other and were engaged in transient contacts, and at higher magnification, tubular peroxisomes appeared to form a peroxisomal reticulum. Local remodeling of these structures could be observed involving the formation and detachment of tubular processes that interconnected adjacent organelles. Inhibition of cytoplasmic dynein based motility by overexpression of the dynactin subunit, dynamitin (p50), inhibited the movement of peroxisomes in vivo and interfered with the reestablishment of a uniform distribution of peroxisomes after recovery from nocodazole treatment. Isolated peroxisomes moved in vitro along microtubules in the presence of a microtubule motor fraction. Our data reveal that peroxisomal behavior in vivo is significantly more dynamic and interactive than previously thought and suggest a role for the dynein/dynactin motor in peroxisome motility.

Animals↗

Process formation results from the imbalance between motor-mediated forces.

Several reports have suggested that neurite outgrowth is mediated by opposing forces generated on microtubules and microfilaments but the molecular basis underlying these forces have not been determined. Here, we show that in non-neuronal cell lines, the inhibition of actomyosin activity by acidic calponin promotes the formation of processes. This effect is blocked by inhibition of the motor activity of cytoplasmic dynein. Therefore, neurite formation is due to an imbalance between tensile and compressive forces mediated by myosins and dyneins, respectively. We propose a mechanism that involves the motor-mediated forces in a tight regulation of the process formation.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Direct binding of NuMA to tubulin is mediated by a novel sequence motif in the tail domain that bundles and stabilizes microtubules.

In mitosis, NuMA localises to spindle poles where it contributes to the formation and maintenance of focussed microtubule arrays. Previous work has shown that NuMA is transported to the poles by dynein and dynactin. So far, it is unclear how NuMA accumulates at the spindle poles following transport and how it remains associated throughout mitosis. We show here that NuMA can bind to microtubules independently of dynein/dynactin. We characterise a 100-residue domain located within the C-terminal tail of NuMA that mediates a direct interaction with tubulin in vitro and that is necessary for NuMA association with tubulin in vivo. Moreover, this domain induces bundling and stabilisation of microtubules when expressed in cultured cells and leads to formation of abnormal mitotic spindles with increased microtubule asters or multiple poles. Our results suggest that NuMA organises the poles by stable crosslinking of the microtubule fibers.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

One-dimensional diffusion on microtubules of particles coated with cytoplasmic dynein and immunoglobulins.

We characterized and compared the diffusion of beads coated with proteins such as cytoplasmic dynein, alpha-casein, and some immunoglobulins on microtubules. Such weak binding interactions could be common and convenient for concentrating proteins at the surface of cytoplasmic structures such as microtubules. In studying the motile behavior of anionic latex beads coated with limiting dilutions of cytoplasmic dynein, we observed that in addition to active movement, 20-50% of the beads moved back and forth in a random manner. The random movement was inhibited by depletion of ATP or addition of ADP or AMP-PNP. Mean-square-displacement analysis showed that the movement is a one-dimensional diffusion along the microtubule axis with a diffusion coefficient of 2.16 x 10(-10) cm2/sec. Histogram analysis of off-axis movements suggested that approximately 60% of the diffusing beads followed the path of a single microtubule protofilament. Beads coated with proteins such as alpha-casein or a monoclonal immunoglobulin were also observed to diffuse on microtubules with a similar diffusion coefficient to cytoplasmic dynein. However, alpha-casein or immunoglobulin-bead diffusion was not ATP dependent and did not follow the paths of single protofilaments. Thus, although the environment of the microtubule surface can trap a variety of different protein-coated beads, cytoplasmic dynein's interaction is unusual in its ATP dependence and tracking on a single protofilament, which is consistent with its specific interaction with microtubules. Diffusive interactions could concentrate associating proteins and still allow for freedom of movement.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Reversible disruption of dynactin 1-mediated retrograde axonal transport in polyglutamine-induced motor neuron degeneration.

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease caused by an expansion of a trinucleotide CAG repeat encoding the polyglutamine tract in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. To elucidate the pathogenesis of polyglutamine-mediated motor neuron dysfunction, we investigated histopathological and biological alterations in a transgenic mouse model of SBMA carrying human pathogenic AR. In affected mice, neurofilaments and synaptophysin accumulated at the distal motor axon. A similar intramuscular accumulation of neurofilament was detected in the skeletal muscle of SBMA patients. Fluoro-gold labeling and sciatic nerve ligation demonstrated an impaired retrograde axonal transport in the transgenic mice. The mRNA level of dynactin 1, an axon motor for retrograde transport, was significantly reduced in the SBMA mice resulting from pathogenic AR-induced transcriptional dysregulation. These pathological events were observed before the onset of neurological symptoms, but were reversed by castration, which prevents nuclear accumulation of pathogenic AR. Overexpression of dynactin 1 mitigated neuronal toxicity of the pathogenic AR in a cell culture model of SBMA. These observations indicate that polyglutamine-dependent transcriptional dysregulation of dynactin 1 plays a crucial role in the reversible neuronal dysfunction in the early stage of SBMA.

Analysis of Variance↗