1
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Chong MK, Rosas-Salvans M, Tran V, Dumont S. Chromosome size-dependent polar ejection force impairs mammalian mitotic error correction. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202310010. [PMID: 38727808 PMCID: PMC11090132 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202310010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Accurate chromosome segregation requires sister kinetochores to biorient, attaching to opposite spindle poles. To this end, the mammalian kinetochore destabilizes incorrect attachments and stabilizes correct ones, but how it discriminates between these is not yet clear. Here, we test the model that kinetochore tension is the stabilizing cue and ask how chromosome size impacts that model. We live image PtK2 cells, with just 14 chromosomes, widely ranging in size, and find that long chromosomes align at the metaphase plate later than short chromosomes. Enriching for errors and imaging error correction live, we show that long chromosomes exhibit a specific delay in correcting attachments. Using chromokinesin overexpression and laser ablation to perturb polar ejection forces, we find that chromosome size and force on arms determine alignment order. Thus, we propose a model where increased force on long chromosomes can falsely stabilize incorrect attachments, delaying their biorientation. As such, long chromosomes may require compensatory mechanisms for correcting errors to avoid chromosomal instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan K. Chong
- Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Miquel Rosas-Salvans
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vanna Tran
- Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sophie Dumont
- Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
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2
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Andrade Ruiz L, Kops GJPL, Sacristan C. Vertebrate centromere architecture: from chromatin threads to functional structures. Chromosoma 2024:10.1007/s00412-024-00823-z. [PMID: 38856923 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-024-00823-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Centromeres are chromatin structures specialized in sister chromatid cohesion, kinetochore assembly, and microtubule attachment during chromosome segregation. The regional centromere of vertebrates consists of long regions of highly repetitive sequences occupied by the Histone H3 variant CENP-A, and which are flanked by pericentromeres. The three-dimensional organization of centromeric chromatin is paramount for its functionality and its ability to withstand spindle forces. Alongside CENP-A, key contributors to the folding of this structure include components of the Constitutive Centromere-Associated Network (CCAN), the protein CENP-B, and condensin and cohesin complexes. Despite its importance, the intricate architecture of the regional centromere of vertebrates remains largely unknown. Recent advancements in long-read sequencing, super-resolution and cryo-electron microscopy, and chromosome conformation capture techniques have significantly improved our understanding of this structure at various levels, from the linear arrangement of centromeric sequences and their epigenetic landscape to their higher-order compaction. In this review, we discuss the latest insights on centromere organization and place them in the context of recent findings describing a bipartite higher-order organization of the centromere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Andrade Ruiz
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, Netherlands
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Geert J P L Kops
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, Netherlands
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Carlos Sacristan
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, Netherlands.
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands.
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3
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Leeds BK, Kostello KF, Liu YY, Nelson CR, Biggins S, Asbury CL. Mechanical coupling coordinates microtubule growth. eLife 2023; 12:RP89467. [PMID: 38150374 PMCID: PMC10752587 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
During mitosis, kinetochore-attached microtubules form bundles (k-fibers) in which many filaments grow and shorten in near-perfect unison to align and segregate each chromosome. However, individual microtubules grow at intrinsically variable rates, which must be tightly regulated for a k-fiber to behave as a single unit. This exquisite coordination might be achieved biochemically, via selective binding of polymerases and depolymerases, or mechanically, because k-fiber microtubules are coupled through a shared load that influences their growth. Here, we use a novel dual laser trap assay to show that microtubule pairs growing in vitro are coordinated by mechanical coupling. Kinetic analyses show that microtubule growth is interrupted by stochastic, force-dependent pauses and indicate persistent heterogeneity in growth speed during non-pauses. A simple model incorporating both force-dependent pausing and persistent growth speed heterogeneity explains the measured coordination of microtubule pairs without any free fit parameters. Our findings illustrate how microtubule growth may be synchronized during mitosis and provide a basis for modeling k-fiber bundles with three or more microtubules, as found in many eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnibelle K Leeds
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Katelyn F Kostello
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Yuna Y Liu
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Christian R Nelson
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
| | - Sue Biggins
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
| | - Charles L Asbury
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
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4
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Chong MK, Rosas-Salvans M, Tran V, Dumont S. Chromosome size-dependent polar ejection force impairs mammalian mitotic error correction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.16.562637. [PMID: 37905080 PMCID: PMC10614862 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.16.562637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Accurate chromosome segregation requires sister kinetochores to biorient, attaching to opposite spindle poles. To this end, the mammalian kinetochore destabilizes incorrect attachments and stabilizes correct ones, but how it discriminates between these is not yet clear. Here, we test the model that kinetochore tension is the stabilizing cue and ask how chromosome size impacts that model. We live image PtK2 cells, with just 14 chromosomes, widely ranging in size, and find that long chromosomes align at the metaphase plate later than short chromosomes. Enriching for errors and imaging error correction live, we show that long chromosomes exhibit a specific delay in correcting attachments. Using chromokinesin overexpression and laser ablation to perturb polar ejection forces, we find that chromosome size and force on arms determine alignment order. Thus, we propose a model where increased force on long chromosomes can falsely stabilize incorrect attachments, delaying their biorientation. As such, long chromosomes may require compensatory mechanisms for correcting errors to avoid chromosomal instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan K. Chong
- Tetrad Graduate Program, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Miquel Rosas-Salvans
- Department of Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Vanna Tran
- Tetrad Graduate Program, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Sophie Dumont
- Tetrad Graduate Program, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, UCSF San Francisco 94158, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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5
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Leeds BK, Kostello KF, Liu YY, Nelson CR, Biggins S, Asbury CL. Mechanical coupling coordinates microtubule growth. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.29.547092. [PMID: 37905093 PMCID: PMC10614740 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.29.547092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
During mitosis, kinetochore-attached microtubules form bundles (k-fibers) in which many filaments grow and shorten in near-perfect unison to align and segregate each chromosome. However, individual microtubules grow at intrinsically variable rates, which must be tightly regulated for a k-fiber to behave as a single unit. This exquisite coordination might be achieved biochemically, via selective binding of polymerases and depolymerases, or mechanically, because k-fiber microtubules are coupled through a shared load that influences their growth. Here, we use a novel dual laser trap assay to show that microtubule pairs growing in vitro are coordinated by mechanical coupling. Kinetic analyses show that microtubule growth is interrupted by stochastic, force-dependent pauses and indicate persistent heterogeneity in growth speed during non-pauses. A simple model incorporating both force-dependent pausing and persistent growth speed heterogeneity explains the measured coordination of microtubule pairs without any free fit parameters. Our findings illustrate how microtubule growth may be synchronized during mitosis and provide a basis for modeling k-fiber bundles with three or more microtubules, as found in many eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnibelle K. Leeds
- Physiology & Biophysics Department, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle WA, USA
| | - Katelyn F. Kostello
- Physiology & Biophysics Department, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle WA, USA
| | - Yuna Y. Liu
- Physiology & Biophysics Department, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle WA, USA
| | | | | | - Charles L. Asbury
- Physiology & Biophysics Department, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle WA, USA
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6
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Sen O, Harrison JU, Burroughs NJ, McAinsh AD. Kinetochore life histories reveal an Aurora-B-dependent error correction mechanism in anaphase. Dev Cell 2021; 56:3082-3099.e5. [PMID: 34758290 PMCID: PMC8629432 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Chromosome mis-segregation during mitosis leads to aneuploidy, which is a hallmark of cancer and linked to cancer genome evolution. Errors can manifest as "lagging chromosomes" in anaphase, although their mechanistic origins and likelihood of correction are incompletely understood. Here, we combine lattice light-sheet microscopy, endogenous protein labeling, and computational analysis to define the life history of >104 kinetochores. By defining the "laziness" of kinetochores in anaphase, we reveal that chromosomes are at a considerable risk of mis-segregation. We show that the majority of lazy kinetochores are corrected rapidly in anaphase by Aurora B; if uncorrected, they result in a higher rate of micronuclei formation. Quantitative analyses of the kinetochore life histories reveal a dynamic signature of metaphase kinetochore oscillations that forecasts their anaphase fate. We propose that in diploid human cells chromosome segregation is fundamentally error prone, with an additional layer of anaphase error correction required for stable karyotype propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onur Sen
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK; Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Jonathan U Harrison
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK; Mathematics Institute and Zeeman Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Nigel J Burroughs
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK; Mathematics Institute and Zeeman Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
| | - Andrew D McAinsh
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK; Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK; University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK.
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7
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Shake It Off: The Elimination of Erroneous Kinetochore-Microtubule Attachments and Chromosome Oscillation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063174. [PMID: 33804687 PMCID: PMC8003821 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell proliferation and sexual reproduction require the faithful segregation of chromosomes. Chromosome segregation is driven by the interaction of chromosomes with the spindle, and the attachment of chromosomes to the proper spindle poles is essential. Initial attachments are frequently erroneous due to the random nature of the attachment process; however, erroneous attachments are selectively eliminated. Proper attachment generates greater tension at the kinetochore than erroneous attachments, and it is thought that attachment selection is dependent on this tension. However, studies of meiotic chromosome segregation suggest that attachment elimination cannot be solely attributed to tension, and the precise mechanism of selective elimination of erroneous attachments remains unclear. During attachment elimination, chromosomes oscillate between the spindle poles. A recent study on meiotic chromosome segregation in fission yeast has suggested that attachment elimination is coupled to chromosome oscillation. In this review, the possible contribution of chromosome oscillation in the elimination of erroneous attachment is discussed in light of the recent finding.
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8
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Pavin N, Tolić IM. Mechanobiology of the Mitotic Spindle. Dev Cell 2020; 56:192-201. [PMID: 33238148 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The mitotic spindle is a microtubule-based assembly that separates the chromosomes during cell division. As the spindle is basically a mechanical micro machine, the understanding of its functioning is constantly motivating the development of experimental approaches based on mechanical perturbations, which are complementary to and work together with the classical genetics and biochemistry methods. Recent data emerging from these approaches in combination with theoretical modeling led to novel ideas and significant revisions of the basic concepts in the field. In this Perspective, we discuss the advances in the understanding of spindle mechanics, focusing on microtubule forces that control chromosome movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nenad Pavin
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Bijenička cesta 32, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Iva M Tolić
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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9
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Abstract
Mistakes in the process of cell division can lead to the loss, gain or rearrangement of chromosomes. Significant chromosomal abnormalities are usually lethal to the cells and cause spontaneous miscarriages. However, in some cases, defects in the spindle assembly checkpoint lead to severe diseases, such as cancer and birth and development defects, including Down's syndrome. The timely and accurate control of chromosome segregation in mitosis relies on the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), an evolutionary conserved, self-regulated signalling system present in higher organisms. The spindle assembly checkpoint is orchestrated by dynamic interactions between spindle microtubules and the kinetochore , a multiprotein complex that constitutes the site for attachment of chromosomes to microtubule polymers to pull sister chromatids apart during cell division. This chapter discusses the current molecular understanding of the essential, highly dynamic molecular interactions underpinning spindle assembly checkpoint signalling and how the complex choreography of interactions can be coordinated in time and space to finely regulate the process. The potential of targeting this signalling pathway to interfere with the abnormal segregation of chromosomes, which occurs in diverse malignancies and the new opportunities that recent technological developments are opening up for a deeper understanding of the spindle assembly checkpoint are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M Bolanos-Garcia
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
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10
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Centromere mechanical maturation during mammalian cell mitosis. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1761. [PMID: 30988289 PMCID: PMC6465287 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09578-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
During mitosis, tension develops across the centromere as a result of spindle-based forces. Metaphase tension may be critical in preventing mitotic chromosome segregation errors, however, the nature of force transmission at the centromere and the role of centromere mechanics in controlling metaphase tension remains unknown. We combined quantitative, biophysical microscopy with computational analysis to elucidate the mechanics of the centromere in unperturbed, mitotic human cells. We discovered that the mechanical stiffness of the human centromere matures during mitotic progression, which leads to amplified centromere tension specifically at metaphase. Centromere mechanical maturation is disrupted across multiple aneuploid cell lines, leading to a weak metaphase tension signal. Further, increasing deficiencies in centromere mechanical maturation are correlated with rising frequencies of lagging, merotelic chromosomes in anaphase, leading to segregation defects at telophase. Thus, we reveal a centromere maturation process that may be critical to the fidelity of chromosome segregation during mitosis. During mitosis, tension at the centromere occurs from the spindle but the role of centromere mechanics in controlling metaphase tension is poorly understood. Here, the authors report that mechanical stiffnness of the centromere matures during mitotic progression and is amplified specifically at metaphase.
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11
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Elting MW, Suresh P, Dumont S. The Spindle: Integrating Architecture and Mechanics across Scales. Trends Cell Biol 2018; 28:896-910. [PMID: 30093097 PMCID: PMC6197898 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The spindle segregates chromosomes at cell division, and its task is a mechanical one. While we have a nearly complete list of spindle components, how their molecular-scale mechanics give rise to cellular-scale spindle architecture, mechanics, and function is not yet clear. Recent in vitro and in vivo measurements bring new levels of molecular and physical control and shed light on this question. Highlighting recent findings and open questions, we introduce the molecular force generators of the spindle, and discuss how they organize microtubules into diverse architectural modules and give rise to the emergent mechanics of the mammalian spindle. Throughout, we emphasize the breadth of space and time scales at play, and the feedback between spindle architecture, dynamics, and mechanics that drives robust function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Williard Elting
- Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, 513 Parnassus Ave, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Physics, Riddick Hall 258A, Box 8202, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; These authors contributed equally
| | - Pooja Suresh
- Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, 513 Parnassus Ave, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Biophysics Graduate Program, 513 Parnassus Ave, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; These authors contributed equally
| | - Sophie Dumont
- Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, 513 Parnassus Ave, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Biophysics Graduate Program, 513 Parnassus Ave, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, 513 Parnassus Ave, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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12
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Klemm AH, Bosilj A, Gluncˇic M, Pavin N, Tolic IM. Metaphase kinetochore movements are regulated by kinesin-8 motors and microtubule dynamic instability. Mol Biol Cell 2018; 29:1332-1345. [PMID: 29851559 PMCID: PMC5994901 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e17-11-0667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During metaphase, sister chromatids are connected to microtubules extending from the opposite spindle poles via kinetochores to protein complexes on the chromosome. Kinetochores congress to the equatorial plane of the spindle and oscillate around it, with kinesin-8 motors restricting these movements. Yet, the physical mechanism underlying kinetochore movements is unclear. We show that kinetochore movements in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe are regulated by kinesin-8-promoted microtubule catastrophe, force-induced rescue, and microtubule dynamic instability. A candidate screen showed that among the selected motors only kinesin-8 motors Klp5/Klp6 are required for kinetochore centering. Kinesin-8 accumulates at the end of microtubules, where it promotes catastrophe. Laser ablation of the spindle resulted in kinetochore movement toward the intact spindle pole in wild-type and klp5Δ cells, suggesting that kinetochore movement is driven by pulling forces. Our theoretical model with Langevin description of microtubule dynamic instability shows that kinesin-8 motors are required for kinetochore centering, whereas sensitivity of rescue to force is necessary for the generation of oscillations. We found that irregular kinetochore movements occur for a broader range of parameters than regular oscillations. Thus, our work provides an explanation for how regulation of microtubule dynamic instability contributes to kinetochore congression and the accompanying movements around the spindle center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna H Klemm
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Agneza Bosilj
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Matko Gluncˇic
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nenad Pavin
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Iva M Tolic
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,Division of Molecular Biology, Rud¯er Boškovic´ Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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13
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Tolić IM. Mitotic spindle: kinetochore fibers hold on tight to interpolar bundles. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL : EBJ 2018; 47:191-203. [PMID: 28725997 PMCID: PMC5845649 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-017-1244-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
When a cell starts to divide, it forms a spindle, a micro-machine made of microtubules, which separates the duplicated chromosomes. The attachment of microtubules to chromosomes is mediated by kinetochores, protein complexes on the chromosome. Spindle microtubules can be divided into three major classes: kinetochore microtubules, which form k-fibers ending at the kinetochore; interpolar microtubules, which extend from the opposite sides of the spindle and interact in the middle; and astral microtubules, which extend towards the cell cortex. Recent work in human cells has shown a close relationship between interpolar and kinetochore microtubules, where interpolar bundles are attached laterally to kinetochore fibers almost all along their length, acting as a bridge between sister k-fibers. Most of the interpolar bundles are attached to a pair of sister kinetochore fibers and vice versa. Thus, the spindle is made of modules consisting of a pair of sister kinetochore fibers and a bundle of interpolar microtubules that connects them. These interpolar bundles, termed bridging fibers, balance the forces acting at kinetochores and support the rounded shape of the spindle during metaphase. This review discusses the structure, function, and formation of kinetochore fibers and interpolar bundles, with an emphasis on how they interact. Their connections have an impact on the force balance in the spindle and on chromosome movement during mitosis because the forces in interpolar bundles are transmitted to kinetochore fibers and hence to kinetochores through these connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva M Tolić
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
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14
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Abstract
Laser ablation is a powerful tool to study forces within biological systems. This technique has been extensively used to study mitotic spindle formation and chromosome segregation. This chapter describes laser ablation of microtubule-chromosome attachments coupled to fluorescence live microscopy and quantitative analysis of individual chromosome movement after microtubule severing. This method allows to gain insight into the organization and dynamics of the meiotic spindle and chromosomes in metaphase I mouse oocytes.
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15
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Milas A, Jagrić M, Martinčić J, Tolić IM. Optogenetic reversible knocksideways, laser ablation, and photoactivation on the mitotic spindle in human cells. Methods Cell Biol 2018; 145:191-215. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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16
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Ono M, Preece D, Duquette ML, Forer A, Berns MW. Mitotic tethers connect sister chromosomes and transmit "cross-polar" force during anaphase A of mitosis in PtK2 cells. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2017; 8:4310-4315. [PMID: 29082066 PMCID: PMC5654781 DOI: 10.1364/boe.8.004310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Originally described in crane-fly spermatocytes, tethers physically link and transmit force between the ends of separating chromosomes. Optical tweezers and laser scissors were used to sever the tether between chromosomes, create chromosome fragments attached to the tether which move toward the opposite pole, and to trap the tethered fragments. Laser microsurgery in the intracellular space between separating telomeres reduced chromosome strain in half of tested chromosome pairs. When the telomere-containing region was severed from the rest of the chromosome body, the resultant fragment either traveled towards the proper pole (poleward), towards the sister pole (cross-polar), or movement ceased. Fragment travel towards the sister pole varied in distance and always ceased following a cut between telomeres, indicating the tether is responsible for transferring a cross-polar force to the fragment. Optical trapping of cross-polar traveling fragments places an upper boundary on the tethering force of ~1.5 pN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Ono
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093,
USA
| | - Daryl Preece
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093,
USA
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093,
USA
| | - Michelle L. Duquette
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093,
USA
| | - Arthur Forer
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J IP3,
Canada
| | - Michael W. Berns
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093,
USA
- Beckman Laser Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, CA 92617,
USA
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17
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Elting MW, Prakash M, Udy DB, Dumont S. Mapping Load-Bearing in the Mammalian Spindle Reveals Local Kinetochore Fiber Anchorage that Provides Mechanical Isolation and Redundancy. Curr Biol 2017; 27:2112-2122.e5. [PMID: 28690110 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Active forces generated at kinetochores move chromosomes, and the dynamic spindle must robustly anchor kinetochore fibers (k-fibers) to bear this load. The mammalian spindle bears the load of chromosome movement far from poles, but we do not know where and how-physically and molecularly-this load distributes across the spindle. In part, this is because probing spindle mechanics in live cells is difficult. Yet answering this question is key to understanding how the spindle generates and responds to force and performs its diverse mechanical functions. Here, we map load-bearing across the mammalian spindle in space-time and dissect local anchorage mechanics and mechanism. To do so, we laser-ablate single k-fibers at different spindle locations and in different molecular backgrounds and quantify the immediate relaxation of chromosomes, k-fibers, and microtubule speckles. We find that load redistribution is locally confined in all directions: along the first 3-4 μm from kinetochores, scaling with k-fiber length, and laterally within ∼2 μm of k-fiber sides, without detectable load sharing between neighboring k-fibers. A phenomenological model suggests that dense, transient crosslinks to the spindle along k-fibers bear the load of chromosome movement but that these connections do not limit the timescale of spindle reorganization. The microtubule crosslinker NuMA is needed for the local load-bearing observed, whereas Eg5 and PRC1 are not detectably required, suggesting specialization in mechanical function. Together, the data and model suggest that NuMA-mediated crosslinks locally bear load, providing mechanical isolation and redundancy while allowing spindle fluidity. These features are well suited to support robust chromosome segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Williard Elting
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Manu Prakash
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Dylan B Udy
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Sophie Dumont
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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Buđa R, Vukušić K, Tolić IM. Dissection and characterization of microtubule bundles in the mitotic spindle using femtosecond laser ablation. Methods Cell Biol 2017; 139:81-101. [PMID: 28215341 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2016.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The mitotic spindle is a highly organized and dynamic structure required for segregation of the genetic material into two daughter cells. Although most of the individual players involved in building the spindle have been characterized in vitro, a general understanding of how all of the spindle players act together in vivo is still missing. Hence, in recent years, experiments have focused on introducing mechanical perturbations of the spindle on a micron scale, thereby providing insight into its function and organization, as well as into forces acting in the spindle. Among different types of mechanical perturbations, optical ones are more flexible, less invasive, and more precise than other approaches. In this chapter, we describe a detailed protocol for cutting the microtubule bundles in human cells using a near-infrared femtosecond laser. This type of laser microsurgery provides the ability to precisely sever a single microtubule bundle while preserving spindle integrity and dynamics. Furthermore, we describe quantitative measurements obtained from the response of a severed microtubule bundle to laser ablation, which reveal the structure and function of individual parts of the spindle, such as the bridging fiber connecting sister k-fibers. Finally, the method described here can be easily combined with other quantitative techniques to address the complexity of the spindle.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Buđa
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - K Vukušić
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - I M Tolić
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
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Affiliation(s)
- Nenad Pavin
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Iva M. Tolić
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
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Cabello S, Gachet Y, Tournier S. Cutting edge science: Laser surgery illuminates viscoelasticity of merotelic kinetochores. J Cell Biol 2016; 212:747-9. [PMID: 27002164 PMCID: PMC4810310 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201603008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence in eukaryotic cells suggests that mechanical forces are essential for building a robust mitotic apparatus and correcting inappropriate chromosome attachments. In this issue, Cojoc et al. (2016. J. Cell Biol., http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201506011) use laser microsurgery in vivo to measure and study the viscoelastic properties of kinetochores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Cabello
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire de Contrôle de la Prolifération, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Yannick Gachet
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire de Contrôle de la Prolifération, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Sylvie Tournier
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire de Contrôle de la Prolifération, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France
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