Differential properties of the two Drosophila gamma-tubulin isotypes

PP2A phosphatase regulates cell-type specific cytoskeletal organization to drive dendrite diversity

Uncovering molecular mechanisms regulating dendritic diversification is essential to understanding the formation and modulation of functional neural circuitry. Transcription factors play critical roles in promoting dendritic diversity and here, we identify PP2A phosphatase function as a downstream effector of Cut-mediated transcriptional regulation of dendrite development. Mutant analyses of the PP2A catalytic subunit (mts) or the scaffolding subunit (PP2A-29B) reveal cell-type specific regulatory effects with the PP2A complex required to promote dendritic growth and branching in Drosophila Class IV (CIV) multidendritic (md) neurons, whereas in Class I (CI) md neurons, PP2A functions in restricting dendritic arborization. Cytoskeletal analyses reveal requirements for Mts in regulating microtubule stability/polarity and F-actin organization/dynamics. In CIV neurons, mts knockdown leads to reductions in dendritic localization of organelles including mitochondria and satellite Golgi outposts, while CI neurons show increased Golgi outpost trafficking along the dendritic arbor. Further, mts mutant neurons exhibit defects in neuronal polarity/compartmentalization. Finally, genetic interaction analyses suggest β-tubulin subunit 85D is a common PP2A target in CI and CIV neurons, while FoxO is a putative target in CI neurons.

Microtubule Organizing Centers Contain Testis-Specific γ-TuRC Proteins in Spermatids of Drosophila

Microtubule nucleation in eukaryotes is primarily promoted by γ-tubulin and the evolutionary conserved protein complex, γ-Tubulin Ring Complex (γ-TuRC). γ-TuRC is part of the centrosome and basal body, which are the best-known microtubule-organizing centers. Centrosomes undergo intensive and dynamic changes during spermatogenesis, as they turn into basal bodies, a prerequisite for axoneme formation during spermatogenesis. Here we describe the existence of a novel, tissue-specific γ-TuRC in Drosophila. We characterize three genes encoding testis-specific components of γ-TuRC (t-γ-TuRC) and find that presence of t-γ-TuRC is essential to male fertility. We show the diverse subcellular distribution of the t-γ-TuRC proteins during post-meiotic development, at first at the centriole adjunct and then also on the anterior tip of the nucleus, and finally, they appear in the tail region, close to the mitochondria. We also prove the physical interactions between the t-γ-TuRC members, γ-tubulin and Mozart1. Our results further indicate heterogeneity in γ-TuRC composition during spermatogenesis and suggest that the different post-meiotic microtubule organizing centers are orchestrated by testis-specific gene products, including t-γ-TuRC.

Centrosomal ALIX regulates mitotic spindle orientation by modulating astral microtubule dynamics

The orientation of the mitotic spindle (MS) is tightly regulated, but the molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here we report a novel role for the multifunctional adaptor protein ALG-2-interacting protein X (ALIX) in regulating MS orientation in addition to its well-established role in cytokinesis. We show that ALIX is recruited to the pericentriolar material (PCM) of the centrosomes and promotes correct orientation of the MS in asymmetrically dividing Drosophila stem cells and epithelial cells, and symmetrically dividing Drosophila and human epithelial cells. ALIX-deprived cells display defective formation of astral microtubules (MTs), which results in abnormal MS orientation. Specifically, ALIX is recruited to the PCM via Drosophila Spindle defective 2 (DSpd-2)/Cep192, where ALIX promotes accumulation of γ-tubulin and thus facilitates efficient nucleation of astral MTs. In addition, ALIX promotes MT stability by recruiting microtubule-associated protein 1S (MAP1S), which stabilizes newly formed MTs. Altogether, our results demonstrate a novel evolutionarily conserved role of ALIX in providing robustness to the orientation of the MS by promoting astral MT formation during asymmetric and symmetric cell division.

Γ-tubulin controls neuronal microtubule polarity independently of Golgi outposts

Microtubule orientation controls polarized trafficking in neurons. In this work, γ-tubulin is identified as a key regulator of both axonal and dendritic microtubule polarity. In addition, the idea that γ-tubulin works in dendrites by residing at Golgi outposts is tested.

Neurons have highly polarized arrangements of microtubules, but it is incompletely understood how microtubule polarity is controlled in either axons or dendrites. To explore whether microtubule nucleation by γ-tubulin might contribute to polarity, we analyzed neuronal microtubules in Drosophila containing gain- or loss-of-function alleles of γ-tubulin. Both increased and decreased activity of γ-tubulin, the core microtubule nucleation protein, altered microtubule polarity in axons and dendrites, suggesting a close link between regulation of nucleation and polarity. To test whether nucleation might locally regulate polarity in axons and dendrites, we examined the distribution of γ-tubulin. Consistent with local nucleation, tagged and endogenous γ-tubulins were found in specific positions in dendrites and axons. Because the Golgi complex can house nucleation sites, we explored whether microtubule nucleation might occur at dendritic Golgi outposts. However, distinct Golgi outposts were not present in all dendrites that required regulated nucleation for polarity. Moreover, when we dragged the Golgi out of dendrites with an activated kinesin, γ-tubulin remained in dendrites. We conclude that regulated microtubule nucleation controls neuronal microtubule polarity but that the Golgi complex is not directly involved in housing nucleation sites.

γ-Tubulin Ring Complexes and EB1 play antagonistic roles in microtubule dynamics and spindle positioning

γ-Tubulin is critical for microtubule (MT) assembly and organization. In metazoa, this protein acts in multiprotein complexes called γ-Tubulin Ring Complexes (γ-TuRCs). While the subunits that constitute γ-Tubulin Small Complexes (γ-TuSCs), the core of the MT nucleation machinery, are essential, mutation of γ-TuRC-specific proteins in Drosophila causes sterility and morphological abnormalities via hitherto unidentified mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate a role of γ-TuRCs in controlling spindle orientation independent of MT nucleation activity, both in cultured cells and in vivo, and examine a potential function for γ-TuRCs on astral MTs. γ-TuRCs locate along the length of astral MTs, and depletion of γ-TuRC-specific proteins increases MT dynamics and causes the plus-end tracking protein EB1 to redistribute along MTs. Moreover, suppression of MT dynamics through drug treatment or EB1 down-regulation rescues spindle orientation defects induced by γ-TuRC depletion. Therefore, we propose a role for γ-TuRCs in regulating spindle positioning by controlling the stability of astral MTs.

The where, when and how of microtubule nucleation – one ring to rule them all

The function of microtubules depends on their arrangement into highly ordered arrays. Spatio-temporal control over the formation of new microtubules and regulation of their properties are central to the organization of these arrays. The nucleation of new microtubules requires γ-tubulin, an essential protein that assembles into multi-subunit complexes and is found in all eukaryotic organisms. However, the way in which γ-tubulin complexes are regulated and how this affects nucleation and, potentially, microtubule behavior, is poorly understood. γ-tubulin has been found in complexes of various sizes but several lines of evidence suggest that only large, ring-shaped complexes function as efficient microtubule nucleators. Human γ-tubulin ring complexes (γTuRCs) are composed of γ-tubulin and the γ-tubulin complex components (GCPs) 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, which are members of a conserved protein family. Recent work has identified additional unrelated γTuRC subunits, as well as a large number of more transient γTuRC interactors. In this Commentary, we discuss the regulation of γTuRC-dependent microtubule nucleation as a key mechanism of microtubule organization. Specifically, we focus on the regulatory roles of the γTuRC subunits and interactors and present an overview of other mechanisms that regulate γTuRC-dependent microtubule nucleation and organization.

LRCH proteins: a novel family of cytoskeletal regulators

BACKGROUND

Comparative genomics has revealed an unexpected level of conservation for gene products across the evolution of animal species. However, the molecular function of only a few proteins has been investigated experimentally, and the role of many animal proteins still remains unknown. Here we report the characterization of a novel family of evolutionary conserved proteins, which display specific features of cytoskeletal scaffolding proteins, referred to as LRCHs.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Taking advantage of the existence of a single LRCH gene in flies, dLRCH, we explored its function in cultured cells, and show that dLRCH act to stabilize the cell cortex during cell division. dLRCH depletion leads to ectopic cortical blebs and alters positioning of the mitotic spindle. We further examined the consequences of dLRCH deletion throughout development and adult life. Although dLRCH is not essential for cell division in vivo, flies lacking dLRCH display a reduced fertility and fitness, particularly when raised at extreme temperatures.

CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE

These results support the idea that some cytoskeletal regulators are important to buffer environmental variations and ensure the proper execution of basic cellular processes, such as the control of cell shape, under environmental variations.

A developmentally regulated two-step process generates a noncentrosomal microtubule network in Drosophila tracheal cells

Microtubules (MTs) are essential for many cell features, such as polarity, motility, shape, and vesicle trafficking. Therefore, in a multicellular organism, their organization differs between cell types and during development; however, the control of this process remains elusive. Here, we show that during Drosophila tracheal morphogenesis, MT reorganization is coupled to relocalization of the microtubule organizing centers (MTOC) components from the centrosome to the apical cell domain from where MTs then grow. We reveal that this process is controlled by the trachealess patterning gene in a two-step mechanism. MTOC components are first released from the centrosome by the activity of the MT-severing protein Spastin, and then anchored apically through the transmembrane protein Piopio. We further show that these changes are essential for tracheal development, thus stressing the functional relevance of MT reorganization for morphogenesis.

gammaTub23C interacts genetically with brahma chromatin-remodeling complexes in Drosophila melanogaster

The brahma gene encodes the catalytic subunit of the Drosophila melanogaster BRM chromatin-remodeling complexes. Screening for mutations that interact with brahma, we isolated the dominant-negative Pearl-2 allele of gammaTub23C. gammaTub23C encodes one of the two gamma-tubulin isoforms in Drosophila and is essential for zygotic viability and normal adult patterning. gamma-Tubulin is a subunit of microtubule organizer complexes. We show that mutations in lethal (1) discs degenerate 4, which encodes the Grip91 subunit of microtubule organizer complexes, suppress the recessive lethality and the imaginal phenotypes caused by gammaTub23C mutations. The genetic interactions between gammaTub23C and chromatin-remodeling mutations suggest that gamma-tubulin might have a role in regulating gene expression.

Distinct Dgrip84 isoforms correlate with distinct gamma-tubulins in Drosophila

Gamma-tubulin is an indispensable component of the animal centrosome and is required for proper microtubule organization. Within the cell, gamma-tubulin exists in a multiprotein complex containing between two (some yeasts) and six or more (metazoa) additional highly conserved proteins named gamma ring proteins (Grips) or gamma complex proteins (GCPs). gamma-Tubulin containing complexes isolated from Xenopus eggs or Drosophila embryos appear ring-shaped and have therefore been named the gamma-tubulin ring complex (gammaTuRC). Curiously, many organisms (including humans) have two distinct gamma-tubulin genes. In Drosophila, where the two gamma-tubulin isotypes have been studied most extensively, the gamma-tubulin genes are developmentally regulated: the "maternal" gamma-tubulin isotype (named gammaTub37CD according to its location on the genetic map) is expressed in the ovary and is deposited in the egg, where it is thought to orchestrate the meiotic and early embryonic cleavages. The second gamma-tubulin isotype (gammaTub23C) is ubiquitously expressed and persists in most of the cells of the adult fly. In those rare cases where both gamma-tubulins coexist in the same cell, they show distinct subcellular distributions and cell-cycle-dependent changes: gammaTub37CD mainly localizes to the centrosome, where its levels vary only slightly with the cell cycle. In contrast, the level of gammaTub23C at the centrosome increases at the beginning of mitosis, and gammaTub23C also associates with spindle pole microtubules. Here, we show that gammaTub23C forms discrete complexes that closely resemble the complexes formed by gammaTub37CD. Surprisingly, however, gammaTub23C associates with a distinct, longer splice variant of Dgrip84. This may reflect a role for Dgrip84 in regulating the activity and/or the location of the gamma-tubulin complexes formed with gammaTub37CD and gammaTub23C.

Drosophila melanogaster gamma-TuRC is dispensable for targeting gamma-tubulin to the centrosome and microtubule nucleation

In metazoans, γ-tubulin acts within two main complexes, γ-tubulin small complexes (γ-TuSCs) and γ-tubulin ring complexes (γ-TuRCs). In higher eukaryotes, it is assumed that microtubule nucleation at the centrosome depends on γ-TuRCs, but the role of γ-TuRC components remains undefined.

For the first time, we analyzed the function of all four γ-TuRC–specific subunits in Drosophila melanogaster: Dgrip75, Dgrip128, Dgrip163, and Dgp71WD. Grip-motif proteins, but not Dgp71WD, appear to be required for γ-TuRC assembly. Individual depletion of γ-TuRC components, in cultured cells and in vivo, induces mitotic delay and abnormal spindles. Surprisingly, γ-TuSCs are recruited to the centrosomes. These defects are less severe than those resulting from the inhibition of γ-TuSC components and do not appear critical for viability. Simultaneous cosilencing of all γ-TuRC proteins leads to stronger phenotypes and partial recruitment of γ-TuSC. In conclusion, γ-TuRCs are required for assembly of fully functional spindles, but we suggest that γ-TuSC could be targeted to the centrosomes, which is where basic microtubule assembly activities are maintained.

The centrosome-nucleus complex and microtubule organization in the Drosophila oocyte

Molecular motors transport the axis-determining mRNAs oskar, bicoid and gurken along microtubules (MTs) in the Drosophila oocyte. However, it remains unclear how the underlying MT network is organized and how this transport takes place. We have identified a centriole-containing centrosome close to the oocyte nucleus. Remarkably, the centrosomal components, gamma-tubulin and Drosophila pericentrin-like protein also strongly accumulate at the periphery of this nucleus. MT polymerization after cold-induced disassembly in wild type and in gurken mutants suggests that in the oocyte the centrosome-nucleus complex is an active center of MT polymerization. We further report that the MT network comprises two perpendicular MT subsets that undergo dynamic rearrangements during oogenesis. This MT reorganization parallels the successive steps in localization of gurken and oskar mRNAs. We propose that in addition to a highly polarized microtubule scaffold specified by the cortex oocyte, the repositioning of the nucleus and its tightly associated centrosome could control MT reorganization and, hence, oocyte polarization.

The Drosophila gamma-tubulin small complex subunit Dgrip84 is required for structural and functional integrity of the spindle apparatus

Gamma-tubulin, a protein critical for microtubule assembly, functions within multiprotein complexes. However, little is known about the respective role of gamma-tubulin partners in metazoans. For the first time in a multicellular organism, we have investigated the function of Dgrip84, the Drosophila orthologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae gamma-tubulin-associated protein Spc97p. Mutant analysis shows that Dgrip84 is essential for viability. Its depletion promotes a moderate increase in the mitotic index, correlated with the appearance of monopolar or unpolarized spindles, impairment of centrosome maturation, and increase of polyploid nuclei. This in vivo study is strengthened by an RNA interference approach in cultured S2 cells. Electron microscopy analysis suggests that monopolar spindles might result from a failure of centrosome separation and an unusual microtubule assembly pathway via centriolar triplets. Moreover, we point to an involvement of Dgrip84 in the spindle checkpoint regulation and in the maintenance of interphase microtubule dynamics. Dgrip84 also seems essential for male meiosis, ensuring spindle bipolarity and correct completion of cytokinesis. These data sustain that Dgrip84 is required in some aspects of microtubule dynamics and organization both in interphase and mitosis. The nature of a minimal gamma-tubulin complex necessary for proper microtubule organization in the metazoans is discussed.

Gene knockout analysis of two gamma-tubulin isoforms in mice

Gamma-tubulin regulates the nucleation of microtubules, but knowledge of its functions in vivo is still fragmentary. Here, we report the identification of two closely related gamma-tubulin isoforms, TUBG1 and TUBG2, in mice, and the generation of TUBG1- and TUBG2-deficient mice. TUBG1 was expressed ubiquitously, whereas TUBG2 was primarily detected in the brain. The development of TUBG1-deficient (Tubg1-/-) embryos stopped at the morula/blastocyst stages due to a characteristic mitotic arrest: the mitotic spindle was highly disorganized, and disorganized spindles showed one or two pole-like foci of bundled MTs that were surrounded by condensed chromosomes. TUBG2 was expressed in blastocysts, but could not rescue the TUBG1 deficiency. By contrast, TUBG2-deficient (Tubg2-/-) mice were born, grew, and intercrossed normally. In the brain of wild-type mice, TUBG2 was expressed in approximately the same amount as TUBG1, but no histological abnormalities were found in the Tubg2-/- brain. These findings indicated that TUBG1 and TUBG2 are not functionally equivalent in vivo, that TUBG1 corresponds to conventional gamma-tubulin, and that TUBG2 may have some unidentified function in the brain.

Elongation of centriolar microtubule triplets contributes to the formation of the mitotic spindle in gamma-tubulin-depleted cells

The assembly of the mitotic spindle after depletion of the major gamma-tubulin isotype by RNA-mediated interference was assessed in the Drosophila S2 cell line. Depletion of gamma-tubulin had no significant effect on the cytoskeletal microtubules during interphase. However, it promoted an increase in the mitotic index, resulting mainly in monopolar and, to a lesser extent, asymmetrical bipolar prometaphases lacking astral microtubules. This mitotic accumulation coincided with the activation of the mitotic checkpoint. Immunostaining with an anti-Asp antibody revealed that the spindle poles, which were always devoid of gamma-tubulin, were unfocused and organized into sub-spindles. Despite the marked depletion of gamma-tubulin, the pericentriolar proteins CP190 and centrosomin were recruited to the spindle pole(s), where they formed three or four dots, suggesting the presence of several centrioles. Electron microscopic reconstructions demonstrated that most of the monopolar spindles exhibited three or four centrioles, indicating centriole duplication with a failure in the separation process. Most of the centrioles were shortened, suggesting a role for gamma-tubulin in centriole morphogenesis. Moreover, in contrast to metaphases observed in control cells, in which the spindle microtubules radiated from the pericentriolar material, in gamma-tubulin-depleted cells, microtubule assembly still occurred at the poles but involved the elongation of centriolar microtubule triplets. Our results demonstrate that, after depletion of gamma-tubulin, the pericentriolar material is unable to promote efficient microtubule nucleation. They point to an alternative mechanism of centrosomal microtubule assembly that contributes to the formation of abnormal, albeit partially functional, mitotic spindles.

Association of brain gamma-tubulins with alpha beta-tubulin dimers

gamma-Tubulin is necessary for nucleation and polar orientation of microtubules in vivo. The molecular mechanism of microtubule nucleation by gamma-tubulin and the regulation of this process are not fully understood. Here we show that there are two gamma-tubulin forms in the brain that are present in complexes of various sizes. Large complexes tend to dissociate in the presence of a high salt concentration. Both gamma-tubulins co-polymerized with tubulin dimers, and multiple gamma-tubulin bands were identified in microtubule protein preparations under conditions of non-denaturing electrophoresis. Immunoprecipitation experiments with monoclonal antibodies against gamma-tubulin and alpha-tubulin revealed interactions of both gamma-tubulin forms with tubulin dimers, irrespective of the size of complexes. We suggest that, besides small and large gamma-tubulin complexes, other molecular gamma-tubulin form(s) exist in brain extracts. Two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed multiple charge variants of gamma-tubulin in both brain extracts and microtubule protein preparations. Post-translational modification(s) of gamma-tubulins might therefore have an important role in the regulation of microtubule nucleation in neuronal cells.