Specificity determinants of phosphoprotein phosphatases controlling kinetochore functions

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitriya H. Garvanska ◽  
Jakob Nilsson

Abstract Kinetochores are instrumental for accurate chromosome segregation by binding to microtubules in order to move chromosomes and by delaying anaphase onset through the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Dynamic phosphorylation of kinetochore components is key to control these activities and is tightly regulated by temporal and spatial recruitment of kinases and phosphoprotein phosphatases (PPPs). Here we focus on PP1, PP2A-B56 and PP2A-B55, three PPPs that are important regulators of mitosis. Despite the fact that these PPPs share a very similar active site, they target unique ser/thr phosphorylation sites to control kinetochore function. Specificity is in part achieved by PPPs binding to short linear motifs (SLiMs) that guide their substrate specificity. SLiMs bind to conserved pockets on PPPs and are degenerate in nature, giving rise to a range of binding affinities. These SLiMs control the assembly of numerous substrate specifying complexes and their position and binding strength allow PPPs to target specific phosphorylation sites. In addition, the activity of PPPs is regulated by mitotic kinases and inhibitors, either directly at the activity level or through affecting PPP–SLiM interactions. Here, we discuss recent progress in understanding the regulation of PPP specificity and activity and how this controls kinetochore biology.

Author(s):  
Babhrubahan Roy ◽  
Simon JY Han ◽  
Adrienne N. Fontan ◽  
Ajit P. Joglekar

SummaryThe Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC) maintains genome stability while enabling timely anaphase onset. To maintain genome stability, the SAC must be strong so that it delays cell division even if one chromosome is unattached, but for timely anaphase onset, it must be responsive to silencing mechanisms. How it meets these potentially antagonistic requirements is unclear. Here we show that the balance between SAC strength and responsiveness is determined by the number of ‘MELT’ motifs in the kinetochore protein Spc105/KNL1 and their Bub3-Bub1 binding affinities. Spc105/KNL1 must contain many strong MELT motifs to prevent chromosome missegregation, but not too many, because this delays SAC silencing and anaphase onset. We demonstrate this by constructing a Spc105 variant that trades SAC responsiveness for significantly improved chromosome segregation accuracy. We propose that the necessity of balancing SAC strength with responsiveness drives the evolutionary trend of MELT motif number amplification and degeneration of their functionally optimal amino acid sequence.


eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babhrubahan Roy ◽  
Simon JY Han ◽  
Adrienne Nicole Fontan ◽  
Ajit P Joglekar

During mitosis, the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC) maintains genome stability while also ensuring timely anaphase onset. To maintain genome stability, the SAC must be strong to delay anaphase even if just one chromosome is unattached, but for timely anaphase onset, it must promptly respond to silencing mechanisms. How the SAC meets these potentially antagonistic requirements is unclear. Here we show that the balance between SAC strength and responsiveness is determined by the number of ‘MELT’ motifs in the kinetochore protein Spc105/KNL1 and their Bub3-Bub1 binding affinities. Many strong MELT motifs per Spc105/KNL1 minimize chromosome missegregation, but too many delay anaphase onset. We demonstrate this by constructing a Spc105 variant that trades SAC responsiveness for much more accurate chromosome segregation. We propose that the necessity of balancing SAC strength and responsiveness drives the dual evolutionary trend of the amplification of MELT motif number, but degeneration of their functionally optimal amino acid sequence.


Cell Cycle ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 2648-2654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teng Zhang ◽  
Shu-Tao Qi ◽  
Lin Huang ◽  
Xue-Shan Ma ◽  
Ying-Chun Ouyang ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel E. Wassing ◽  
Emily Graham ◽  
Xanita Saayman ◽  
Lucia Rampazzo ◽  
Christine Ralf ◽  
...  

AbstractThe RAD51 recombinase plays critical roles in safeguarding genome integrity, which is fundamentally important for all living cells. While interphase functions of RAD51 in maintaining genome stability are well-characterised, its role in mitosis remains contentious. In this study, we show that RAD51 protects under-replicated DNA in mitotic human cells and, in this way, promotes mitotic DNA synthesis (MiDAS) and successful chromosome segregation. In cells experiencing mild replication stress, MiDAS was detected irrespective of mitotically generated DNA damage. MiDAS broadly required de novo RAD51 recruitment to single-stranded DNA, which was supported by the phosphorylation of RAD51 by the key mitotic regulator Polo-like kinase 1. Importantly, acute inhibition of MiDAS delayed anaphase onset and induced centromere fragility, suggesting a mechanism that prevents the satisfaction of the spindle assembly checkpoint while chromosomal replication remains incomplete. This study hence identifies an unexpected function of RAD51 in promoting genomic stability in mitosis.


2008 ◽  
Vol 183 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan C. Osmundson ◽  
Dipankar Ray ◽  
Finola E. Moore ◽  
Qingshen Gao ◽  
Gerald H. Thomsen ◽  
...  

Activation of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) by Cdc20 is critical for the metaphase–anaphase transition. APC/C-Cdc20 is required for polyubiquitination and degradation of securin and cyclin B at anaphase onset. The spindle assembly checkpoint delays APC/C-Cdc20 activation until all kinetochores attach to mitotic spindles. In this study, we demonstrate that a HECT (homologous to the E6-AP carboxyl terminus) ubiquitin ligase, Smurf2, is required for the spindle checkpoint. Smurf2 localizes to the centrosome, mitotic midbody, and centromeres. Smurf2 depletion or the expression of a catalytically inactive Smurf2 results in misaligned and lagging chromosomes, premature anaphase onset, and defective cytokinesis. Smurf2 inactivation prevents nocodazole-treated cells from accumulating cyclin B and securin and prometaphase arrest. The silencing of Cdc20 in Smurf2-depleted cells restores mitotic accumulation of cyclin B and securin. Smurf2 depletion results in enhanced polyubiquitination and degradation of Mad2, a critical checkpoint effector. Mad2 is mislocalized in Smurf2-depleted cells, suggesting that Smurf2 regulates the localization and stability of Mad2. These data indicate that Smurf2 is a novel mitotic regulator.


2008 ◽  
Vol 182 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayumu Yamamoto ◽  
Kenji Kitamura ◽  
Daisuke Hihara ◽  
Yukinobu Hirose ◽  
Satoshi Katsuyama ◽  
...  

During mitosis, the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) inhibits the Cdc20-activated anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/CCdc20), which promotes protein degradation, and delays anaphase onset to ensure accurate chromosome segregation. However, the SAC function in meiotic anaphase regulation is poorly understood. Here, we examined the SAC function in fission yeast meiosis. As in mitosis, a SAC factor, Mad2, delayed anaphase onset via Slp1 (fission yeast Cdc20) when chromosomes attach to the spindle improperly. However, when the SAC delayed anaphase I, the interval between meiosis I and II shortened. Furthermore, anaphase onset was advanced and the SAC effect was reduced at meiosis II. The advancement of anaphase onset depended on a meiosis-specific, Cdc20-related factor, Fzr1/Mfr1, which contributed to anaphase cyclin decline and anaphase onset and was inefficiently inhibited by the SAC. Our findings show that impacts of SAC activation are not confined to a single division at meiosis due to meiosis-specific APC/C regulation, which has probably been evolved for execution of two meiotic divisions.


Open Biology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 160315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eelco Tromer ◽  
Debora Bade ◽  
Berend Snel ◽  
Geert J. P. L. Kops

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) maintains genomic integrity by preventing progression of mitotic cell division until all chromosomes are stably attached to spindle microtubules. The SAC critically relies on the paralogues Bub1 and BubR1/Mad3, which integrate kinetochore–spindle attachment status with generation of the anaphase inhibitory complex MCC. We previously reported on the widespread occurrences of independent gene duplications of an ancestral ‘MadBub’ gene in eukaryotic evolution and the striking parallel subfunctionalization that lead to loss of kinase function in BubR1/Mad3-like paralogues. Here, we present an elaborate subfunctionalization analysis of the Bub1/BubR1 gene family and perform de novo sequence discovery in a comparative phylogenomics framework to trace the distribution of ancestral sequence features to extant paralogues throughout the eukaryotic tree of life. We show that known ancestral sequence features are consistently retained in the same functional paralogue: GLEBS/CMI/CDII/kinase in the Bub1-like and KEN1/KEN2/D-Box in the BubR1/Mad3-like. The recently described ABBA motif can be found in either or both paralogues. We however discovered two additional ABBA motifs that flank KEN2. This cassette of ABBA1-KEN2-ABBA2 forms a strictly conserved module in all ancestral and BubR1/Mad3-like proteins, suggestive of a specific and crucial SAC function. Indeed, deletion of the ABBA motifs in human BUBR1 abrogates the SAC and affects APC/C–Cdc20 interactions. Our detailed comparative genomics analyses thus enabled discovery of a conserved cassette of motifs essential for the SAC and shows how this approach can be used to uncover hitherto unrecognized functional protein features.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spyridon T. Pachis ◽  
Yoshitaka Hiruma ◽  
Anastassis Perrakis ◽  
Geert J.P.L. Kops

ABSTRACTFaithful chromosome segregation relies on the ability of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) to delay anaphase onset until all chromosomes are attached to the mitotic spindle via their kinetochores. MPS1 kinase is recruited to unattached kinetochores to initiate SAC signaling, and is removed from kinetochores once stable microtubule attachments have been formed to allow normal mitotic progression. Here we show that a helical fragment within the kinetochore-targeting NTE module of MPS1 is required for interactions with kinetochores, and also forms intramolecular interactions with its adjacent TPR domain. Bypassing this NTE-TPR interaction results in high MPS1 levels at kinetochores due to loss of regulatory input into MPS1 localization, ineffecient MPS1 delocalization from kinetochores upon microtubule attachment, and SAC silencing defects. These results show that SAC responsiveness to attachments relies on regulated intramolecular interactions in MPS1 and highlight the sensitivity of mitosis to perturbations in the dynamics of the MSP1-NDC80-C interactions.


eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances Edwards ◽  
Gilliane Maton ◽  
Nelly Gareil ◽  
Julie C Canman ◽  
Julien Dumont

Accurate chromosome segregation relies on bioriented amphitelic attachments of chromosomes to microtubules of the mitotic spindle, in which sister chromatids are connected to opposite spindle poles. BUB-1 is a protein of the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC) that coordinates chromosome attachment with anaphase onset. BUB-1 is also required for accurate sister chromatid segregation independently of its SAC function, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here we show that, in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, BUB-1 accelerates the establishment of non-merotelic end-on kinetochore-microtubule attachments by recruiting the RZZ complex and its downstream partner dynein-dynactin at the kinetochore. In parallel, BUB-1 limits attachment maturation by the SKA complex. This activity opposes kinetochore-microtubule attachment stabilisation promoted by CLS-2CLASP-dependent kinetochore-microtubule assembly. BUB-1 is therefore a SAC component that coordinates the function of multiple downstream kinetochore-associated proteins to ensure accurate chromosome segregation.


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