The spindle pole body of Schizosaccharomyces pombe enters and leaves the nuclear envelope as the cell cycle proceeds

Nuclear shape, growth and integrity in the closed mitosis of fission yeast depend on the Ran-GTPase system, the spindle pole body and the endoplasmic reticulum

The double lipid bilayer of the nuclear envelope (NE) remains intact during closed mitosis. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the intranuclear mitotic spindle has envelope-embedded spindle pole bodies (SPB) at its ends. As the spindle elongates and the nucleus divides symmetrically, nuclear volume remains constant but nuclear area rapidly increases by 26%. When Ran-GTPase function is compromised in S. pombe, nuclear division is strikingly asymmetrical and the newly synthesized SPB is preferentially associated with the smaller nucleus, indicative of a Ran-dependent SPB defect that interferes with symmetrical nuclear division. A second defect, which specifically influences the NE, results in breakage of the NE upon spindle elongation. This defect, but not asymmetric nuclear division, is partially rescued by slowing spindle elongation, stimulating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proliferation or changing conformation of the ER membrane. We propose that redistribution of lipid within the ER-NE network is crucial for mitosis-specific NE changes in both open and closed mitosis.

The S. pombe mitotic regulator Cut12 promotes spindle pole body activation and integration into the nuclear envelope

The fission yeast spindle pole body (SPB) comprises a cytoplasmic structure that is separated from an ill-defined nuclear component by the nuclear envelope. Upon mitotic commitment, the nuclear envelope separating these domains disperses as the two SPBs integrate into a hole that forms in the nuclear envelope. The SPB component Cut12 is linked to cell cycle control, as dominant cut12.s11 mutations suppress the mitotic commitment defect of cdc25.22 cells and elevated Cdc25 levels suppress the monopolar spindle phenotype of cut12.1 loss of function mutations. We show that the cut12.1 monopolar phenotype arises from a failure to activate and integrate the new SPB into the nuclear envelope. The activation of the old SPB was frequently delayed, and its integration into the nuclear envelope was defective, resulting in leakage of the nucleoplasm into the cytoplasm through large gaps in the nuclear envelope. We propose that these activation/integration defects arise from a local deficiency in mitosis-promoting factor activation at the new SPB.

The actin cytoskeleton in spindle assembly and positioning

The most dramatic changes in eukaryotic cytoskeletal organization and dynamics occur during passage through mitosis. Although both spindle self-organization and actin-dependent cytokinesis have long been the subject of intense investigation, it has only recently become apparent that the actin cortex also has a key role during early mitosis. This is most striking in animal cells, in which changes in the actin cytoskeleton drive mitotic cell rounding and cortical stiffening. This mitotic cortex then functions as a foundation for spindle assembly and to guide spindle orientation with respect to extracellular chemical and mechanical cues. Here, we discuss this recent work and the possible role of crosstalk between the mitotic actin cortex and the plus ends of astral microtubules in this process.

The spindle checkpoint: assays for the analysis of spindle checkpoint arrest and recovery

The spindle checkpoint is a surveillance mechanism that ensures the fidelity of chromosome segregation by inhibiting anaphase onset until all chromosomes have established stable bipolar attachments. Here we describe a number of protocols that can be used to assay the ability of budding and fission yeast cells to (1) establish and maintain a spindle checkpoint arrest, and (2) segregate chromosomes efficiently upon recovery from mitotic arrest. We focus on experimental detail of the budding yeast protocols, but also point out important differences between budding and fission yeast assays.

Role of spindle asymmetry in cellular dynamics

The mitotic spindle is mostly perceived as a symmetric structure. However, in many cell divisions, the two poles of the spindle organize asters with different dynamics, associate with different biomolecules or subcellular domains, and perform different functions. In this chapter, we describe some of the most prominent examples of spindle asymmetry. These are encountered during cell-cycle progression in budding and fission yeast and during asymmetric cell divisions of stem cells and embryos. We analyze the molecular mechanisms that lead to generation of spindle asymmetry and discuss the importance of spindle-pole differentiation for the correct outcome of cell division.

A network of nuclear envelope membrane proteins linking centromeres to microtubules

In the fission yeast S. pombe, nuclei are actively positioned at the cell center by microtubules. Here, we show that cytoplasmic microtubules are mechanically coupled to the nuclear heterochromatin through proteins embedded in the nuclear envelope. This includes an integral outer nuclear membrane protein of the KASH family (Kms2) and two integral inner nuclear membrane proteins, the SUN-domain protein Sad1 and the previously uncharacterized protein Ima1. Ima1 specifically binds to heterochromatic regions and promotes the tethering of centromeric DNA to the SUN-KASH complex. In the absence of Ima1, or in cells harboring mutations in the centromeric Ndc80 complex, inefficient coupling of centromeric heterochromatin to Sad1 leads to striking defects in the ability of the nucleus to tolerate microtubule-dependent forces, leading to changes in nuclear shape, loss of spindle pole body components from the nuclear envelope, and partial dissociation of SUN-KASH complexes. This work highlights a framework for communication between cytoplasmic microtubules and chromatin.

Interphase microtubule bundles use global cell shape to guide spindle alignment in fission yeast

Correct spindle alignment requires a cell to detect and interpret its global geometry and to communicate this information to the mitotic spindle. In the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the mitotic spindle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped cell. Here, using wild-type and cell-shape mutants we investigate the mechanism of initial spindle alignment and show that attachment of interphase microtubules to the spindle pole bodies (SPB), the yeast equivalent of the centrosome, is required to align duplicated SPBs, and thus the mitotic spindle, with the long axis of the cell. In the absence of interphase microtubules or attachment between the microtubules and the SPB, newly formed spindles are randomly oriented. We show that the axis of the mitotic spindle correlates with the axis along which the SPB, as a consequence of interphase microtubule dynamics, oscillates just before mitosis. We propose that cell geometry guides cytoplasmic microtubule alignment, which in turn, determines initial spindle alignment, and demonstrate that a failure of the spindle pre-alignment mechanism results in unequal chromosome segregation when spindle length is reduced.

The Dam1/DASH complex is required for the retrieval of unclustered kinetochores in fission yeast

In fission yeast centromeres cluster at the nuclear envelope in a region underlying the spindle pole body during interphase, an arrangement known as a Rabl configuration. We have identified a strain in which one pair of sister kinetochores is unclustered from the others and binds the nuclear envelope at a point distal to the spindle pole body. We show that during mitosis unclustered kinetochores are captured by intranuclear spindle microtubules which then pull the kinetochores back to one of the two spindle poles before they are bi-oriented on the mitotic spindle. We find that kinetochore retrieval occurs at the depolymerising microtubule plus end and is dependent on the non-essential Dam1/DASH complex. In the absence of Dam1 unclustered kinetochores are captured on the lateral surface of spindle microtubule bundles but poleward kinetochore movement does not occur. These data provide the first direct evidence that the Dam1/DASH complex can couple the force generated by microtubule depolymerisation to direct chromosome movement in vivo.

The telomere bouquet controls the meiotic spindle

Bouquet formation, in which telomeres gather to a small region of the nuclear membrane in early meiosis, has been observed in diverse eukaryotes, but the function of the bouquet has remained a mystery. Here, we demonstrate that the telomere bouquet plays a crucial role in controlling the behavior of the fission yeast microtubule-organizing center (known as the spindle pole body or SPB) and the meiotic spindle. Using mutations that specifically disrupt the bouquet, we analyze chromosome, SPB, and spindle dynamics throughout meiosis. If the bouquet fails to form, the SPB becomes fragmented at meiosis I, leading to monopolar, multiple, and mislocalized spindles. Correct SPB and spindle behavior require not only the SPB recruitment of telomere proteins but also that the proteins are properly bound to telomeric DNA. This discovery illuminates an unanticipated level of communication between chromosomes and the spindle apparatus that may be widely conserved among eukaryotes.

Vesicle-like biomechanics governs important aspects of nuclear geometry in fission yeast

It has long been known that during the closed mitosis of many unicellular eukaryotes, including the fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), the nuclear envelope remains intact while the nucleus undergoes a remarkable sequence of shape transformations driven by elongation of an intranuclear mitotic spindle whose ends are capped by spindle pole bodies embedded in the nuclear envelope. However, the mechanical basis of these normal cell cycle transformations, and abnormal nuclear shapes caused by intranuclear elongation of microtubules lacking spindle pole bodies, remain unknown. Although there are models describing the shapes of lipid vesicles deformed by elongation of microtubule bundles, there are no models describing normal or abnormal shape changes in the nucleus. We describe here a novel biophysical model of interphase nuclear geometry in fission yeast that accounts for critical aspects of the mechanics of the fission yeast nucleus, including the biophysical properties of lipid bilayers, forces exerted on the nuclear envelope by elongating microtubules, and access to a lipid reservoir, essential for the large increase in nuclear surface area during the cell cycle. We present experimental confirmation of the novel and non-trivial geometries predicted by our model, which has no free parameters. We also use the model to provide insight into the mechanical basis of previously described defects in nuclear division, including abnormal nuclear shapes and loss of nuclear envelope integrity. The model predicts that (i) despite differences in structure and composition, fission yeast nuclei and vesicles with fluid lipid bilayers have common mechanical properties; (ii) the S. pombe nucleus is not lined with any structure with shear resistance, comparable to the nuclear lamina of higher eukaryotes. We validate the model and its predictions by analyzing wild type cells in which ned1 gene overexpression causes elongation of an intranuclear microtubule bundle that deforms the nucleus of interphase cells.

The spindle pole bodies facilitate nuclear envelope division during closed mitosis in fission yeast

Many organisms divide chromosomes within the confines of the nuclear envelope (NE) in a process known as closed mitosis. Thus, they must ensure coordination between segregation of the genetic material and division of the NE itself. Although many years of work have led to a reasonably clear understanding of mitotic spindle function in chromosome segregation, the NE division mechanism remains obscure. Here, we show that fission yeast cells overexpressing the transforming acid coiled coil (TACC)-related protein, Mia1p/Alp7p, failed to separate the spindle pole bodies (SPBs) at the onset of mitosis, but could assemble acentrosomal bipolar and antiparallel spindle structures. Most of these cells arrested in anaphase with fully extended spindles and nonsegregated chromosomes. Spindle poles that lacked the SPBs did not lead the division of the NE during spindle elongation, but deformed it, trapping the chromosomes within. When the SPBs were severed by laser microsurgery in wild-type cells, we observed analogous deformations of the NE by elongating spindle remnants, resulting in NE division failure. Analysis of dis1Δ cells that elongate spindles despite unattached kinetochores indicated that the SPBs were required for maintaining nuclear shape at anaphase onset. Strikingly, when the NE was disassembled by utilizing a temperature-sensitive allele of the Ran GEF, Pim1p, the abnormal spindles induced by Mia1p overexpression were capable of segregating sister chromatids to daughter cells, suggesting that the failure to divide the NE prevents chromosome partitioning. Our results imply that the SPBs preclude deformation of the NE during spindle elongation and thus serve as specialized structures enabling nuclear division during closed mitosis in fission yeast.

Chromosomes replicate in the nucleus, which is surrounded by the double-layered nuclear envelope (NE). During so-called open mitosis, the NE breaks down to allow spindle microtubules (which do the work of pulling the replicated chromosomes apart) access to the nuclear interior. Alternatively, in closed mitosis, many species assemble spindles inside the nucleus and segregate daughter genomes within the NE. To see how cells coordinate chromosome segregation with NE division in closed mitosis, we looked at the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe in which spindle poles are anchored at the spindle pole bodies (SPBs), specialized organelles inserted into the NE. We used two experimental manipulations to cause cells to assemble unusual spindles without the proper pole-located SPBs. These spindles deformed the NE and failed to segregate chromosomes. However, spindles lacking the SPBs were capable of segregating chromosomes if the NE was disassembled. We hypothesize that the SPBs have evolved as specialized structures preventing NE deformation during spindle elongation during closed mitosis.

Spindle pole bodies allow nuclear division during mitosis, when there is no nuclear envelope breakdown in fission yeast.

Gamma-tubulin complex-mediated anchoring of spindle microtubules to spindle-pole bodies requires Msd1 in fission yeast

The anchoring of microtubules to subcellular structures is critical for cell polarity and motility. Although the process of anchoring cytoplasmic microtubules to the centrosome has been studied in some detail, it is not known how spindle microtubules are anchored to the mitotic centrosome and, particularly, whether anchoring and nucleation of mitotic spindles are functionally separate. Here, we show that a fission yeast coiled-coil protein, Msd1, is required for anchoring the minus end of spindle microtubules to the centrosome equivalent, the spindle-pole body (SPB). msd1 deletion causes spindle microtubules to abnormally extend beyond SPBs, which results in chromosome missegregation. Importantly, this protruding spindle is phenocopied by the amino-terminal deletion mutant of Alp4, a component of the gamma-tubulin complex (gamma-TuC), which lacks the potential Msd1-interacting domain. We propose that Msd1 interacts with gamma-TuC, thereby specifically anchoring the minus end of microtubules to SPBs without affecting microtubule nucleation.

Organization of interphase microtubules in fission yeast analyzed by electron tomography

Polarized cells, such as neuronal, epithelial, and fungal cells, all display a specialized organization of their microtubules (MTs). The interphase MT cytoskeleton of the rod-shaped fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, has been extensively described by fluorescence microscopy. Here, we describe a large-scale, electron tomography investigation of S. pombe, including a 3D reconstruction of a complete eukaryotic cell volume at sufficient resolution to show both how many MTs there are in a bundle and their detailed architecture. Most cytoplasmic MTs are open at one end and capped at the other, providing evidence about their polarity. Electron-dense bridges between the MTs themselves and between MTs and the nuclear envelope were frequently observed. Finally, we have investigated structure/function relationships between MTs and both mitochondria and vesicles. Our analysis shows that electron tomography of well-preserved cells is ideally suited for describing fine ultrastructural details that were not visible with previous techniques.

Mitotic chromosome biorientation in fission yeast is enhanced by dynein and a minus-end-directed, kinesin-like protein

Chromosome biorientation, the attachment of sister kinetochores to sister spindle poles, is vitally important for accurate chromosome segregation. We have studied this process by following the congression of pole-proximal kinetochores and their subsequent anaphase segregation in fission yeast cells that carry deletions in any or all of this organism's minus end-directed, microtubule-dependent motors: two related kinesin 14s (Pkl1p and Klp2p) and dynein. None of these deletions abolished biorientation, but fewer chromosomes segregated normally without Pkl1p, and to a lesser degree without dynein, than in wild-type cells. In the absence of Pkl1p, which normally localizes to the spindle and its poles, the checkpoint that monitors chromosome biorientation was defective, leading to frequent precocious anaphase. Ultrastructural analysis of mutant mitotic spindles suggests that Pkl1p contributes to error-free biorientation by promoting normal spindle pole organization, whereas dynein helps to anchor a focused bundle of spindle microtubules at the pole.

Microtubule Organization: Cell Shape Is Destiny

A simple self-assembly pathway generates cytoplasmic microtubule bundles that can locate the cell center and guide spindle assembly in fission yeast. The cylindrical cell shape automatically corrects spindle orientation errors, rendering a checkpoint unnecessary.

Interphase microtubules determine the initial alignment of the mitotic spindle

In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, interphase microtubules (MTs) position the nucleus [1, 2], which in turn positions the cell-division plane [1, 3]. It is unclear how the spindle orients, with respect to the predetermined division plane, to ensure that the chromosomes are segregated across this plane. It has been proposed that, during prometaphase, the astral MT interaction with the cell cortex aligns the spindle with the cell axis [4] and also participates in a spindle orientation checkpoint (SOC), which delays entry into anaphase as long as the spindle is misaligned [5-7]. Here, we trace the position of the spindle throughout mitosis in a single-cell assay. We find no evidence for the SOC. We show that the spindle is remarkably well aligned with the cell longitudinal axis at the onset of mitosis, by growing along the axis of the adjacent interphase MT. Misalignment of nascent spindles can give rise to anucleate cells when spindle elongation is impaired. We propose a new role for interphase microtubules: through interaction with the spindle pole body, interphase microtubules determine the initial alignment of the spindle in the subsequent cell division.

Microtubule depolymerization can drive poleward chromosome motion in fission yeast

Prometaphase kinetochores interact with spindle microtubules (MTs) to establish chromosome bi-orientation. Before becoming bi-oriented, chromosomes frequently exhibit poleward movements (P-movements), which are commonly attributed to minus end-directed, MT-dependent motors. In fission yeast there are three such motors: dynein and two kinesin-14s, Pkl1p and Klp2p. None of these enzymes is essential for viability, and even the triple deletion grows well. This might be due to the fact that yeasts kinetochores are normally juxtapolar at mitosis onset, removing the need for poleward chromosome movement during prometaphase. Anaphase P-movement might also be dispensable in a spindle that elongates significantly. To test this supposition, we have analyzed kinetochore dynamics in cells whose kinetochore-pole connections have been dispersed. In cells recovering from this condition, the maximum rate of poleward kinetochore movement was unaffected by the deletion of any or all of these motors, strongly suggesting that other factors, like MT depolymerization, can cause such movements in vivo. However, Klp2p, which localizes to kinetochores, contributed to the effectiveness of P-movement by promoting the shortening of kinetochore fibers.

Chromosome segregation in fission yeast with mutations in the tubulin folding cofactor D

Faithful chromosome segregation requires the combined activities of the microtubule-based mitotic spindle and the multiple proteins that form mitotic kinetochores. Here, we show that the fission yeast mitotic mutant, tsm1-512, is an allele of the tubulin folding chaperone, cofactor D. Chromosome segregation in this and in an additional cofactor D mutant depends on growth conditions that are monitored specifically by the mitotic checkpoint proteins Mad1, 2, 3 and Bub3. The temperature-sensitive mutants we have used disrupt the function of cofactor D to different extents, but both strains form a mitotic spindle in which the poles separate in anaphase. However, chromosome segregation is often unequal, apparently due to a defect in kinetochore-microtubule interactions. Mutations in cofactor D render cells particularly sensitive to the expression levels of a CENP-B-like protein, Abp1p, which works as an allele-specific, high-copy suppressor of cofactor D. This and other genetic interactions between cofactor D mutants and specific kinetochore and spindle components suggest their critical role in establishing the normal kinetochore-microtubule interface.

Self-organization of interphase microtubule arrays in fission yeast

Microtubule organization is key to eukaryotic cell structure and function. In most animal cells, interphase microtubules organize around the centrosome, the major microtubule organizing centre (MTOC). Interphase microtubules can also become organized independently of a centrosome, but how acentrosomal microtubules arrays form and whether they are functionally equivalent to centrosomal arrays remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the interphase microtubule arrays of fission yeast cells can persist independently of nuclear-associated MTOCs, including the spindle pole body (SPB)--the centrosomal equivalent. By artificially enucleating cells, we show that arrays can form de novo (self-organize) without nuclear-associated MTOCs, but require the microtubule nucleator mod20-mbo1-mto1 (refs 3-5), the bundling factor ase1 (refs 6,7), and the kinesin klp2 (refs 8,9). Microtubule arrays in enucleated and nucleated cells are morphologically indistinguishable and similarly locate to the cellular axis and centre. By simultaneously tracking nuclear-independent and SPB-associated microtubule arrays within individual nucleated cells, we show that both define the cell centre with comparable precision. We propose that in fission yeast, nuclear-independent, self-organized, acentrosomal microtubule arrays are structurally and functionally equivalent to centrosomal arrays.

Modulation of Alp4 function in Schizosaccharomyces pombe induces novel phenotypes that imply distinct functions for nuclear and cytoplasmic gamma-tubulin complexes

The gamma-tubulin complex acts as a nucleation unit for microtubule assembly. It remains unknown, however, how spatial and temporal regulation of the complex activity affects microtubule-mediated cellular processes. Alp4 is one of the essential components of the S. pombe gamma-tubulin complex. We show here that overproduction of a carboxy-terminal form of Alp4 (Alp4C) and its derivatives tagged to a nuclear localization signal or to a nuclear export signal affect localization of gamma-tubulin complexes and induces novel phenotypes that reflect distinct functions of nuclear and cytoplasmic gamma-tubulin complexes. Nuclear Alp4C induces a Wee1-dependent G2 delay, reduces the levels of the gamma-tubulin complex at the spindle pole body, and results in defects in mitotic progression including spindle assembly, cytoplasmic microtubule disassembly, and chromosome segregation. In contrast, cytoplasmic Alp4C induces oscillatory nuclear movement and affects levels of cell polarity markers, Bud6 and Tip1, at the cell ends. These results demonstrate that regulation of nuclear gamma-tubulin complex activity is essential for cell cycle progression through the G2/M boundary and M phase, whereas regulation of cytoplasmic gamma-tubulin complex activity is important for nuclear positioning and cell polarity control during interphase.

Ppc89 links multiple proteins, including the septation initiation network, to the core of the fission yeast spindle-pole body

The spindle-pole body (SPB), the yeast analog of the centrosome, serves as the major microtubule (MT) organizing center in the yeast cell. In addition to this central function, the SPB organizes and concentrates proteins required for proper coordination between the nuclear-division cycle and cytokinesis. For example, the Schizosaccharomyces pombe septation-initiation network (SIN), which is responsible for initiating actomyosin ring constriction and septation, is assembled at the SPB through its two scaffolding components, Sid4 and Cdc11. In an effort to identify novel SIN interactors, we purified Cdc11 and identified by mass spectrometry a previously uncharacterized protein associated with it, Ppc89. Ppc89 localizes constitutively to the SPB and interacts directly with Sid4. A fusion between the N-terminal 300 amino acids of Sid4 and a SPB targeting domain of Ppc89 supplies the essential function of Sid4 in anchoring the SIN. ppc89Delta cells are inviable and exhibit defects in SPB integrity, and hence in spindle formation, chromosome segregation, and SIN localization. Ppc89 overproduction is lethal, resulting primarily in a G2 arrest accompanied by massive enlargement of the SPB and increased SPB MT nucleation. These results suggest a fundamental role for Ppc89 in organization of the S. pombe SPB.

Distinct nuclear and cytoplasmic functions of the S. pombe Cdc14-like phosphatase Clp1p/Flp1p and a role for nuclear shuttling in its regulation

Cdc14-like phosphatases regulate a variety of cell cycle events by dephosphorylating CDK sites. Their cell cycle-dependent changes in localization may be important to carry out distinct functions. Work in budding and fission yeast suggested that Cdc14-like phosphatases are inhibited by nucleolar sequestration. In S. cerevisiae, Cdc14p is released from the nucleolus by the FEAR network and Cdk1, whereas the S. pombe CDC14-like phosphatase Clp1p (also known as Flp1p) is released at mitotic entry by an unknown mechanism. The mitotic exit network (MEN) in S. cerevisiae and its homologous network, the septation initiation network (SIN), in S. pombe act through an unknown mechanism to keep the phosphatase out of the nucleolus in late mitosis. SIN-dependent cytoplasmic maintenance of Clp1p is thought to be essential for the cytokinesis checkpoint, which blocks further rounds of nuclear division until cytokinesis is completed. By targeting Clp1p to the nucleus or the cytoplasm, we demonstrate distinct functions for these pools of Clp1p in chromosome segregation and cytokinesis, respectively. Our results further suggest that the SIN does not keep Clp1p out of the nucleolus by regulating nucleolar affinity, as proposed for S. cerevisiae Cdc14p, but instead, Clp1p may be regulated by nuclear import/export.

The fission yeast spindle orientation checkpoint: a model that generates tension?

In all eukaryotes, the alignment of the mitotic spindle with the axis of cell polarity is essential for accurate chromosome segregation as well as for the establishment of cell fate, and thus morphogenesis, during development. Studies in invertebrates, higher eukaryotes and yeast suggest that astral microtubules interact with the cell cortex to position the spindle. These microtubules are thought to impose pushing or pulling forces on the spindle poles to affect the rotation or movement of the spindle. In the fission yeast model, where cell division is symmetrical, spindle rotation is dependent on the interaction of astral microtubules with the cortical actin cytoskeleton. In these cells, a bub1-dependent mitotic checkpoint, the spindle orientation checkpoint (SOC), is activated when the spindles fail to align with the cell polarity axis. In this paper we review the mechanism that orientates the spindle during mitosis in fission yeast, and discuss the consequences of misorientation on metaphase progression.

Counting Cytokinesis Proteins Globally and Locally in Fission Yeast

We used fluorescence microscopy to measure global and local concentrations of 28 cytoskeletal and signaling proteins fused to yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Native promoters controlled the expression of these functional YFP fusion proteins. Fluorescence measured by microscopy or flow cytometry was directly proportional to protein concentration measured by quantitative immunoblotting. Global cytoplasmic concentrations ranged from 0.04 (formin Cdc12p) to 63 micromolar (actin). Proteins concentrated up to 100 times in contractile rings and 7500 times in spindle pole bodies at certain times in the cell cycle. This approach can be used to measure the global and local concentrations of any fusion protein.

Molecular analysis of kinetochore architecture in fission yeast

Kinetochore composition and structure are critical for understanding how kinetochores of different types perform similar functions in chromosome segregation. We used affinity purification to investigate the kinetochore composition and assembly in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We identified a conserved DASH complex that functions to ensure precise chromosome segregation. Unlike DASH in budding yeast that is localized onto kinetochores throughout the cell cycle, SpDASH is localized onto kinetochores only in mitosis. We also identified two independent groups of kinetochore components, one of which, the Sim4 complex, contains several novel Fta proteins in addition to known kinetochore components. DASH is likely to be associated with the Sim4 complex via Dad1 protein. The other group, Ndc80-MIND-Spc7 complex, contains the conserved Ndc80 and MIND complexes and Spc7 protein. We propose that fission yeast kinetochore is comprised of at least two major structural motifs that are biochemically separable. Our results suggest a high degree of conservation between the kinetochores of budding yeast and fission yeast even though many individual protein subunits do not have a high degree of sequence similarity.

The Kinesin Klp2 Mediates Polarization of Interphase Microtubules in Fission Yeast

Fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) cells grow longitudinally in a manner dependent on a polarized distribution of their interphase microtubules. We found that this distribution required sliding of microtubules toward the cell center along preexisting microtubules. This sliding was mediated by the minus end-directed kinesin motor Klp2, which helped microtubules to become properly organized with plus ends predominantly oriented toward the cell ends and minus ends toward the cell center. Thus, interphase microtubules in the fission yeast require motor activities for their proper organization.

Etd1p is a novel protein that links the SIN cascade with cytokinesis

In animal cells, cytokinesis occurs by constriction of an actomyosin ring. In fission yeast cells, ring constriction is triggered by the septum initiation network (SIN), an SPB-associated GTPase-regulated kinase cascade that coordinates exit from mitosis with cytokinesis. We have identified a novel protein, Etd1p, required to trigger actomyosin ring constriction in fission yeasts. This protein is localised at the cell tips during interphase. In mitosis, it relocates to the medial cortex region and, coincident with cytokinesis, it assembles into the actomyosin ring by association to Cdc15p. Relocation of Etd1p from the plasma membrane to the medial ring is triggered by SIN signalling and, reciprocally, relocation of the Sid2p-Mob1p kinase complex from the SPB to the division site, a late step in the execution of the SIN, requires Etd1p. These results suggest that Etd1p coordinates the mitotic activation of SIN with the initiation of actomyosin ring constriction. Etd1p peaks during cytokinesis and is degraded by the ubiquitin-dependent 26S-proteasome pathway at the end of septation, providing a mechanism to couple inactivation of SIN to completion of cytokinesis.

Effects of {gamma}-tubulin complex proteins on microtubule nucleation and catastrophe in fission yeast

Although gamma-tubulin complexes (gamma-TuCs) are known as microtubule (MT) nucleators, their function in vivo is still poorly defined. Mto1p (also known as mbo1p or mod20p) is a gamma-TuC-associated protein that recruits gamma-TuCs specifically to cytoplasmic MT organizing centers (MTOCs) and interphase MTs. Here, we investigated gamma-TuC function by analyzing MT behavior in mto1Delta and alp4 (GCP2 homologue) mutants. These cells have free, extra-long interphase MTs that exhibit abnormal behaviors such as cycles of growth and breakage, MT sliding, treadmilling, and hyperstability. The plus ends of interphase and spindle MTs grow continuously, exhibiting catastrophe defects that are dependent on the CLIP170 tip1p. The minus ends of interphase MTs exhibit shrinkage and pauses. As mto1Delta mutants lack cytoplasmic MTOCs, cytoplasmic MTs arise from spindle or other intranuclear MTs that exit the nucleus. Our findings show that mto1p and gamma-TuCs affect multiple properties of MTs including nucleation, nuclear attachment, plus-end catastrophe, and minus-end shrinkage.

Intra-nuclear microtubules and a mitotic spindle orientation checkpoint

Cells of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe have a checkpoint mechanism that reportedly monitors the orientation of the mitotic spindle. Astral microtubules in pre-anaphase spindles are thought to contact the contractile actin ring at the plasma membrane in order to rotate the spindle and to sense spindle orientation. Here, we show that these microtubules are actually inside the nuclear envelope.

Fission yeast mto2p regulates microtubule nucleation by the centrosomin-related protein mto1p

From an insertional mutagenesis screen, we isolated a novel gene, mto2+, involved in microtubule organization in fission yeast. mto2Delta strains are viable but exhibit defects in interphase microtubule nucleation and in formation of the postanaphase microtubule array at the end of mitosis. The mto2Delta defects represent a subset of the defects displayed by cells deleted for mto1+ (also known as mod20+ and mbo1+), a centrosomin-related protein required to recruit the gamma-tubulin complex to cytoplasmic microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs). We show that mto2p colocalizes with mto1p at MTOCs throughout the cell cycle and that mto1p and mto2p coimmunoprecipitate from cytoplasmic extracts. In vitro studies suggest that mto2p binds directly to mto1p. In mto2Delta mutants, although some aspects of mto1p localization are perturbed, mto1p can still localize to spindle pole bodies and the cell division site and to "satellite" particles on interphase microtubules. In mto1Delta mutants, localization of mto2p to all of these MTOCs is strongly reduced or absent. We also find that in mto2Delta mutants, cytoplasmic forms of the gamma-tubulin complex are mislocalized, and the gamma-tubulin complex no longer coimmunoprecipitates with mto1p from cell extracts. These experiments establish mto2p as a major regulator of mto1p-mediated microtubule nucleation by the gamma-tubulin complex.

Spindle pole body duplication in fission yeast occurs at the G1/S boundary but maturation is blocked until exit from S by an event downstream of cdc10+

The regulation and timing of spindle pole body (SPB) duplication and maturation in fission yeast was examined by transmission electron microscopy. When cells are arrested at G1 by nitrogen starvation, the SPB is unduplicated. On release from G1, the SPBs were duplicated after 1-2 h. In cells arrested at S by hydroxyurea, SPBs are duplicated but not mature. In G1 arrest/release experiments with cdc2.33 cells at the restrictive temperature, SPBs remained single, whereas in cells at the permissive temperature, SPBs were duplicated. In cdc10 mutant cells, the SPBs seem not only to be duplicated but also to undergo partial maturation, including invagination of the nuclear envelope underneath the SPB. There may be an S-phase-specific inhibitor of SPB maturation whose expression is under control of cdc10(+). This model was examined by induction of overreplication of the genome by overexpression of rum1p or cdc18p. In cdc18p-overexpressing cells, the SPBs are duplicated but not mature, suggesting that cdc18p is one component of this feedback mechanism. In contrast, cells overexpressing rum1p have large, deformed SPBs accompanied by other features of maturation and duplication. We propose a feedback mechanism for maturation of the SPB that is coupled with exit from S to trigger morphological changes.

Microtubule nucleation at non-spindle pole body microtubule-organizing centers requires fission yeast centrosomin-related protein mod20p

BACKGROUND

Many types of differentiated eukaryotic cells display microtubule distributions consistent with nucleation from noncentrosomal intracellular microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs), although such structures remain poorly characterized. In fission yeast, two types of MTOCs exist in addition to the spindle pole body, the yeast centrosome equivalent. These are the equatorial MTOC, which nucleates microtubules from the cell division site at the end of mitosis, and interphase MTOCs, which nucleate microtubules from multiple sites near the cell nucleus during interphase.

RESULTS

From an insertional mutagenesis screen we identified a novel gene, mod20+, which is required for microtubule nucleation from non-spindle pole body MTOCs in fission yeast. Mod20p is not required for intranuclear mitotic spindle assembly, although it is required for cytoplasmic astral microtubule growth during mitosis. Mod20p localizes to MTOCs throughout the cell cycle and is also dynamically distributed along microtubules themselves. We find that mod20p is required for the localization of components of the gamma-tubulin complex to non-spindle pole body MTOCs and physically interacts with the gamma-tubulin complex in vivo. Database searches reveal a family of eukaryotic proteins distantly related to mod20p; these are found in organisms ranging from fungi to mammals and include Drosophila centrosomin.

CONCLUSIONS

Mod20p appears to act by recruiting components of the gamma-tubulin complex to non-spindle pole body MTOCs. The identification of mod20p-related proteins in higher eukaryotes suggests that this may represent a general mechanism for the organization of noncentrosomal MTOCs in eukaryotic cells.

Recruitment of NIMA kinase shows that maturation of the S. pombe spindle-pole body occurs over consecutive cell cycles and reveals a role for NIMA in modulating SIN activity

Mitotic exit in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and septation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe are regulated by a conserved signaling network called the mitotic exit and septum initiation networks (SIN), respectively. The network is active on one of the two anaphase B spindle-pole bodies (SPBs). Whereas the inherent asymmetry of growth by budding accounts for elements of the asymmetry in S. cerevisiae, it has been unclear how, or why, the pathway is asymmetric in S. pombe. We show that elements of SPB duplication in S. pombe are conservative, and that the SIN is active on the new SPB. SIN association with the new SPB persists after transient depolymerization of microtubules. The localization of the NIMA-related kinase, Fin1, reveals further complexity in SPB inheritance. Fin1 associates with the SPB bearing the older components in all cells and with the "new" SPB in half of the population. Fin1 only binds the new SPB when this new SPB has arisen from the duplication of an SPB that is two or more cycles old. Thus, each of the four SPBs generated over two consecutive cell cycles are different, because they have distinct fates in the next cell cycle. Fin1 binds the SPB once the SIN is active and the association requires the SIN inhibitors Byr4 and Cdc16. Fin1 physically associates with Byr4. Compromising Fin1 function leads to SIN activation on both anaphase B SPBs and promotes septation, indicating that Fin1 restrains SIN activity on the old SPB.

Forespore membrane assembly in yeast: coordinating SPBs and membrane trafficking

In the yeasts Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sporulation involves de novo synthesis of forespore membrane (FSM) within the cytoplasm of mother cells. The FSM ultimately becomes the plasma membrane of the developing ascospores. Several protein components of the FSM have been identified. Visualization of these proteins has demonstrated the dynamic nature of the genesis and development of the FSM. It begins to develop at the differentiated outer plaque of the spindle pole bodies (SPBs) and extends outwards, encapsulating each of the haploid nuclei produced by meiosis. Several coiled-coil proteins are specifically recruited to the SPBs and play indispensable roles in FSM assembly. Temporal and spatial coordination of meiotic nuclear divisions and membrane assembly is of special importance. Comparison of the processes of FSM assembly in these yeasts shows that the basic mechanism has been conserved, even though the individual proteins involved are often different. Understanding these dynamic aspects of yeast sporulation will help to elucidate a general mechanism for the cellularization of cytoplasm containing multiple nuclei.

Individual microtubule dynamics contribute to the function of mitotic and cytoplasmic arrays in fission yeast

Schizosaccharomyces pombe is an excellent organism for studying microtubule dynamics owing to the presence of well-defined microtubule arrays that undergo dramatic rearrangements during various stages of the cell cycle. Using sensitive time-lapse video microscopy and kymographic analysis, we have determined the polymerization/depolymerization kinetics of individual microtubules within these arrays throughout the fission yeast cell cycle. Interphase bundles are composed of 4-7 microtubules that act autonomously, demonstrating that individual microtubules are responsible for mediating the functions ascribed to these arrays. The nucleation and growth of cytoplasmic microtubules is inhibited upon cellular transition into mitosis, leading to their gradual disappearance. At the onset of mitosis, microtubules form on the nuclear face of the spindle pole body and exhibit dramatically increased dynamics. The presence of these intra-nuclear astral microtubules (INA) is reminiscent of spindle assembly and the search and chromosome capture mechanism observed in metazoan cells. Consistent with other in vivo studies, we do not observe microtubule flux in the anaphase B spindle. Finally, the depolymerization of individual microtubules alternates between each half-spindle, resulting in spindle collapse during telophase. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that microtubules in these diverse cytoskeletal arrays have autonomous behaviors that are an essential component of any model describing cell-cycle-dependent changes in the behavior and function of microtubule arrays.

Mechanism controlling perpendicular alignment of the spindle to the axis of cell division in fission yeast

In animal cells, the mitotic spindle is aligned perpendicular to the axis of cell division. This ensures that sister chromatids are separated to opposite sides of the cytokinetic actomyosin ring (CAR). We show that, in fission yeast, spindle rotation is dependent on the interaction of astral microtubules with the cortical actin cytoskeleton. Interaction initially occurs with a region surrounding the nucleus, which we term the astral microtubule interaction zone (AMIZ). Simultaneous contact of astral microtubules from both poles with the AMIZ directs spindle rotation and this requires both actin and two type V myosins, Myo51 and Myo52. Astral microtubules from one pole only then contact the CAR, which is located at the centre of the AMIZ. We demonstrate that the anillin homologue Mid1, which dictates correct placement of the CAR, is necessary to stabilise the mitotic spindle perpendicular to the axis of cell division. Finally, we show that the position of the mitotic spindle is monitored by a checkpoint that regulates the timing of sister chromatid separation.

Spatial and temporal pathway for assembly and constriction of the contractile ring in fission yeast cytokinesis

Microscopy of fluorescent fusion proteins and genetic dependencies show that fission yeast assemble and constrict a cytokinetic contractile ring in a precisely timed, sequential order. More than 90 min prior to separation of the spindle pole bodies (SPB), the anillin-like protein (Mid1p) migrates from the nucleus and specifies a broad band of cortex around the equator as the division site. Between 10 min before and 2 min after SPB separation, conventional myosin-II (Myo2p), IQGAP (Rng2p), PCH protein (Cdc15p), and formin (Cdc12p) join the broad band independent of actin filaments. Over the subsequent 10 min prior to anaphase B, this broad band of proteins condenses into a contractile ring including actin, tropomyosin (Cdc8p), and alpha-actinin (Ain1p). During anaphase B, unconventional myosin-II (Myp2p) joins the ring followed by the septin (Spn1p). Ring contraction and disassembly begin 37 min after SPB separation. This spatial and temporal hierarchy provides the framework for analysis of molecular mechanisms.

Two-hybrid search for proteins that interact with Sad1 and Kms1, two membrane-bound components of the spindle pole body in fission yeast

In interphase cells of fission yeast, the spindle pole body (SPB) is thought to be connected with chromosomal centromeres by an as yet unknown mechanism that spans the nuclear membrane. To elucidate this mechanism, we performed two-hybrid screens for proteins that interact with Kms1 and Sad1, which are constitutive membrane-bound components of the SPB that interact with each other. Seven and 26 genes were identified whose products potentially interact with Kms1 and Sad1, respectively. With the exception of Dlc1 (a homolog of the 14-kDa dynein light chain), all of the Kms1 interactors also interacted with Sad1. Among the genes identified were the previously known genes rhp9+ / crb2+, cut6+, ags1+ / mok1+, gst3+, kms2+, and sid4+. The products of kms2+ and sid4+ localize to the SPB. The novel genes were characterized by constructing disruption mutations and by localization of the gene products. Two of them, putative homologues of budding yeast UFE1 (which encodes a t-SNARE) and SFH1 (an essential component of a chromatin-remodeling complex), were essential for viability. Two further genes, which were only conditionally essential, genetically interact with sad1+. One of these was named sif1+ (for Sad1-interacting factor) and is required for proper septum formation at high temperature. Cells in which this gene was overexpressed displayed a wee -like phenotype. The product of the other gene, apm1+, is very similar to the medium chain of an adaptor protein complex in clathrin-coated vesicles. Apm1 appears to be required for SPB separation and spindle formation, and tended to accumulate at the SPB when it was overproduced. It was functionally distinct from its homologues Apm2 and Apm4. Other novel genes identified in this study included one for a nucleoporin and genes encoding novel membrane-bound proteins that were genetically related to Sad1. We found that none of the newly identified genes tested were necessary for centromere/telomere clustering.

The spindle pole body of the pathogenic yeast Exophiala dermatitidis: variation in morphology and positional relationship to the nucleolus and the bud in interphase cells

The spindle pole body (SPB) in the interphase cell of the pathogenic yeast Exophiala dermatitidis was studied in detail. The SPB was located on the outer nuclear envelope and was 342 +/- 86 nm long in a haploid strain. It consisted of two disk elements that measured 151 +/- 43 nm in diameter and 103 +/- 17 nm in thickness, connected by a rod-shaped midpiece that measured 56 +/- 20 nm in length and 37 +/- 9 nm in diameter. There were considerable variations in size and morphology of interphase SPB. Some disk elements appeared spherical but others were more flattened, and there was variation in electron density. A few SPBs did not have the midpiece. The SPB of a diploid strain was 486 +/- 118 nm long, thus significantly bigger than that of the haploid strain. The SPB tended to be localized away from the nucleolus (110 +/- 48 degrees), but close to the bud (78 +/- 45 degrees). The present study highlights the necessity of observing a large number of micrographs in three-dimensions to describe accurately the ultrastructure of the SPB in yeast.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae spindle pole body is a dynamic structure

During spindle pole body (SPB) duplication, the new SPB is assembled at a distinct site adjacent to the old SPB. Using quantitative fluorescence methods, we studied the assembly and dynamics of the core structural SPB component Spc110p. The SPB core exhibits both exchange and growth in a cell cycle-dependent manner. During G1/S phase, the old SPB exchanges approximately 50% of old Spc110p for new Spc110p. In G2 little Spc110p is exchangeable. Thus, Spc110p is dynamic during G1/S and becomes stable during G2. The SPB incorporates additional Spc110p in late G2 and M phases; this growth is followed by reduction in the next G1. Spc110p addition to the SPBs (growth) also occurs in response to G2 and mitotic arrests but not during a G1 arrest. Our results reveal several dynamic features of the SPB core: cell cycle-dependent growth and reduction, growth in response to cell cycle arrests, and exchange of Spc110p during SPB duplication. Moreover, rather than being considered a conservative or dispersive process, the assembly of Spc110p into the SPB is more readily considered in terms of growth and exchange.

Fission yeast cdc31p is a component of the half-bridge and controls SPB duplication

The fission yeast spindle pole body (SPB) is a nucleus-associated organelle that duplicates once each cell cycle during interphase. Duplicated SPBs serve as the poles of an intranuclear mitotic spindle after their insertion into the nuclear envelope in mitosis (Ding et al., Mol. Biol. Cell 8, 1461-1479). Here, we report the identification and characterization of Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc31p, a member of the conserved calcium-binding centrin/CDC31 family. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy show that cdc31p is a SPB component localized at the half-bridge structure of the SPB. cdc31 is an essential gene and Deltacdc31 cells and cdc31 conditional mutant cells arrest in mitosis with a monopolar mitotic spindle organized from a single SPB. EM analysis demonstrates that mutant cdc31 cells fail to duplicate the SPB. In addition, cdc31p exhibits genetic interactions with the SPB component sad1p and is required for sad1p localization. Finally, cdc31 mutant can undergo single or multiple rounds of septation before the exit from mitosis, suggesting that cdc31p activity or SPB duplication may be required for the proper coordination between the exit from mitosis and the initiation of septation.

Fission yeast meu14+ is required for proper nuclear division and accurate forespore membrane formation during meiosis II

Using a meiosis-specific subtracted cDNA library of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, we identified meu14+ as a gene whose expression is upregulated during meiosis. Transcription of meu14+ is induced abruptly after the cell enters meiosis. Its transcription is dependent on the meiosis-specific transcription factor Mei4. In meu14Delta cells, the segregation and modification of the SPBs (spindle pole bodies) and microtubule elongation during meiosis II were aberrant. Meiotic meu14Delta cells consequently produced a high frequency of abnormal tetranucleate cells harboring aberrant forespore membranes and failed to produce asci. In wild-type cells harboring the integrated meu14+-gfp fusion gene, Meu14-GFP first appeared inside the nuclear region at prophase II, after which it accumulated beside the two SPBs at metaphase II. Thereafter, it formed two ring-shaped structures that surrounded the nucleus at early anaphase II. At post-anaphase II, it disappeared. Meu14-GFP appears to localize at the border of the forespore membrane that later develops into spore walls at the end of sporulation. This was confirmed by coexpressing Spo3-HA, a component of the forespore membrane, with Meu14-GFP. Taken together, we conclude that meu14+ is crucial in meiosis in that it participates in both the nuclear division during meiosis II and the accurate formation of the forespore membrane.

Single-strand DNA aptamers as probes for protein localization in cells

The accurate localization of proteins in fixed cells is important for many studies in cell biology, but good fixation is often antagonistic to good immunolabeling, given the density of well-preserved cells and the size of most labeled antibody probes. We therefore explored the use of single-stranded oligonucleotides (aptamers), which can bind to proteins with very high affinity and specificity but which are only approximately 10 kD. To evaluate these probes for general protein localization, we sought an aptamer that binds to a widely used protein tag, the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Although this quest was not successful, we were able to solve several practical problems that will confront any such labeling effort, e.g., the rates at which oligonucleotides enter fixed cells of different kinds and the extent of nonspecific oligonucleotide binding to both mammalian and yeast cell structures. Because such localization methods would be of particular value for electron microscopy of optimally fixed material, we also explored the solubility of aptamers under conditions suitable for freeze-substitution fixation. We found that aptamers are sufficiently soluble in cold organic solvents to encourage the view that this approach may be useful for the localization of specific proteins in context of cellular fine structure.

Spindle formation in Aspergillus is coupled to tubulin movement into the nucleus

In many important organisms, including many algae and most fungi, the nuclear envelope does not disassemble during mitosis. This fact raises the possibility that mitotic onset and/or exit might be regulated, in part, by movement of important mitotic proteins into and out of the nucleoplasm. We have used two methods to determine whether tubulin levels in the nucleoplasm are regulated in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans. First, we have used benomyl to disassemble microtubules and create a pool of free tubulin that can be readily observed by immunofluorescence. We find that tubulin is substantially excluded from interphase nuclei, but is present in mitotic nuclei. Second, we have observed a green fluorescent protein/alpha-tubulin fusion in living cells by time-lapse spinning-disk confocal microscopy. We find that tubulin is excluded from interphase nuclei, enters the nucleus seconds before the mitotic spindle begins to form, and is removed from the nucleoplasm during the M-to-G1 transition. Our data indicate that regulation of intranuclear tubulin levels plays an important, perhaps essential, role in the control of mitotic spindle formation in A. nidulans. They suggest that regulation of protein movement into the nucleoplasm may be important for regulating mitotic onset in organisms with intranuclear mitosis.

An evolutionarily conserved fission yeast protein, Ned1, implicated in normal nuclear morphology and chromosome stability, interacts with Dis3, Pim1/RCC1 and an essential nucleoporin

We identified a novel fission yeast gene, ned1(+), with pleiotropic mutations that have a high incidence of chromosome missegregation, aberrantly shaped nuclei, overdeveloped endoplasmic reticulum-like membranes, and increased sensitivity to a microtubule destabilizing agent. Ned1 protein, which was phosphorylated in a growth-related manner, interacted in a yeast two-hybrid system with Dis3 as well as with Pim1/RCC1 (nucleotide exchange factor for Ran). Ned1 also interacted with an essential nucleoporin, a probable homologue of mammalian Nup98/96. The ned1 gene displayed a variety of genetic interactions with factors involved in nuclear transport and chromosome segregation, including the crm1 (exportin), spi1 (small GTPase Ran), pim1, and dis genes. A substitution mutation that affected the two-hybrid interaction with Dis3 increased chromosome instability, suggesting the functional importance of the interaction. Overproduction of Ned1 protein induced formation of an abnormal microtubule bundle within the nucleus, apparently independently of the spindle pole body, but dependent on pim1(+) activity. The ned1(+) gene belongs to an evolutionarily conserved gene family, which includes the mouse Lpin genes, one of whose mutations is responsible for lipodystrophy.

Molecular and structural characterization of the spindle pole bodies in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus var japonicus

The structure and localization of the microtubule organization centres (MTOCs) of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus var. japonicus were examined by fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy. Spindle pole bodies (SPBs), which are the fungal equivalent of centrosomes, of Sz. japonicus were visualized by immunofluorescent staining using a monoclonal anti-gamma-tubulin antibody. The behaviour of the SPBs during the cell cycle mostly coincided with previous reports on the most widely used fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We cloned the gamma-tubulin gene from Sz. japonicus by PCR using redundant sets of primers corresponding to conserved regions of known gamma-tubulins. The predicted amino acid sequence of Sz. japonicus gamma-tubulin was most similar to the Sz. pombe gamma-tubulin. Under the electron microscope, the SPBs of Sz. japonicus were detected as electron-dense multilayered structures located just outside the nuclear envelope. The SPBs of Sz. japonicus were composed of three electron-dense layers and were surrounded by fuzzy material. Each layer showed structural changes according to the progression of the cell cycle. In mitotic cells, the SPBs were located on the fenestrae of the nuclear envelopes through which the mitotic spindle microtubules ran into the nucleoplasm. Our results show that Sz. japonicus is a very potent and attractive organism for the investigation of the microtubule nucleation system and morphogenesis in yeasts. The Accession No. for the nucleotide sequence of the Sz. japonicus gtb1(+) gene is AF159163.

The fission yeast NIMA kinase Fin1p is required for spindle function and nuclear envelope integrity

NIMA kinases appear to be the least functionally conserved mitotic regulators, being implicated in chromosome condensation in fungi and in spindle function in metazoans. We demonstrate here that the fission yeast NIMA homologue, Fin1p, can induce profound chromosome condensation in the absence of the condensin and topoisomerase II, indicating that Fin1p-induced condensation differs from mitotic condensation. Fin1p expression is transcriptionally and post-translationally cell cycle-regulated, with Fin1p kinase activity maximal from the metaphase-anaphase transition to G(1). Fin1p is localized to the spindle pole body and fin1Delta cells are hypersensitive to anti-microtubule drugs, synthetically lethal with a number of spindle mutants and require the spindle checkpoint for viability. Moreover, fin1Delta cells show unusual and extensive elaborations of the nuclear envelope. These data support a role for Fin1p in spindle function and nuclear envelope transactions at or after the metaphase-anaphase transition that may be generally applicable to other NIMA-family members.

F-actin ring formation and the role of F-actin cables in the fission yeastSchizosaccharomyces pombe

Cells of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe divide by the contraction of the F-actin ring formed at the medial region of the cell. We investigated the process of F-actin ring formation in detail using optical sectioning and three-dimensional reconstruction fluorescence microscopy. In wild-type cells, formation of an aster-like structure composed of F-actin cables and accumulation of F-actin cables were recognized at the medial cortex of the cell during prophase to metaphase. The formation of the aster-like structure seemed to initiate from branching of the longitudinal F-actin cables at a site near the spindle pole bodies, which had been duplicated but not yet separated. A single cable extended from the aster and encircled the cell at the equator to form a primary F-actin ring during metaphase. During anaphase,the accumulated F-actin cables were linked to the primary F-actin ring, and then all of these structures seemed to be packed to form the F-actin ring. These observations suggest that formation of the aster-like structure and the accumulation of the F-actin cables at the medial region of the cell during metaphase may be required to initiate the F-actin ring formation. In the nda3 mutant, which has a mutation in ß-tubulin and has been thought to be arrested at prophase, an F-actin ring with accumulated F-actin cables similar to that of anaphase wild-type cells was formed at a restrictive temperature. Immediately after shifting to a permissive temperature, this structure changed into a tightly packed ring. This suggests that the F-actin ring formation progresses beyond prophase in the nda3 cells once the cells enter prophase. We further examined F-actin structures in both cdc12 and cdc15 early cytokinesis mutants. As a result,Cdc12 seemed to be required for the primary F-actin ring formation during prophase, whereas Cdc15 may be involved in both packing the F-actin cables to form the F-actin ring and rearrangement of the F-actin after anaphase. In spg1, cdc7 and sid2 septum initiation mutants, the F-actin ring seemed to be formed in order.