Abstract
Centrosomes are major determinants of mitotic spindle structure, but the mechanisms regulating their behavior remain poorly understood. The spd-2 gene of C. elegans is required for centrosome assembly or "maturation." Here we show that spd-2 encodes a coiled-coil protein that localizes within pericentriolar material (PCM) and in the immediate vicinity of centrioles. During maturation, SPD-2 gradually accumulates at the centrosome in a manner that is partially dependent on Aurora-A kinase and cytoplasmic dynein. Interestingly, SPD-2 interacts genetically with dynein heavy chain and SPD-5, another coiled-coil protein required for centrosome maturation. SPD-2 and SPD-5 are codependent for localization to the PCM, but SPD-2 localizes to centrioles independently of SPD-5. Surprisingly, we also find that SPD-2 is required for centrosome duplication and genetically interacts with ZYG-1, a kinase required for duplication. Thus, we have identified SPD-2 as a factor critical for the two basic functions of the centrosome-microtubule organization and duplication.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Amino Acid Sequence / genetics
-
Animals
-
Aurora Kinases
-
Base Sequence / genetics
-
Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
-
Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
-
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
-
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / isolation & purification*
-
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
-
Cell Cycle Proteins
-
Cell Differentiation / genetics
-
Centrioles / genetics
-
Centrioles / metabolism
-
Centrosome / metabolism*
-
DNA, Complementary / analysis
-
DNA, Complementary / genetics
-
Dyneins / genetics
-
Dyneins / metabolism
-
Microtubule-Organizing Center / metabolism*
-
Microtubules / genetics
-
Microtubules / metabolism
-
Mitosis / genetics*
-
Molecular Sequence Data
-
Protein Kinases / genetics
-
Protein Kinases / metabolism
-
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
-
Protein Structure, Tertiary / genetics
-
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
-
Spindle Apparatus / genetics
-
Spindle Apparatus / metabolism*
-
Xenopus Proteins
Substances
-
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
-
Cell Cycle Proteins
-
DNA, Complementary
-
SPD-2 protein, C elegans
-
Xenopus Proteins
-
Protein Kinases
-
zyg-1 protein, C elegans
-
AURKA protein, Xenopus
-
Aurora Kinases
-
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
-
Dyneins