Phosphorylation Regulates the Motile Properties of a Mitotic Kinesin

Ofer Shapira, Larisa Gheber

Research output: Contribution to journalMeeting Abstractpeer-review

Abstract

Saccharomyces cerevisiaes Cin8, a member of the kinesin-5 family of motors,
performs important functions in mitotic spindle dynamics such as spindle
assembly and anaphase spindle elongation. Resent work has shown that Cin8
is a bidirectional motor and moves in vitro towards the minus-end of microtubules (MTs) and changes directionality as a function on ionic strength conditions and MT binding geometry (Gerson-Gurwitz et al., 2011). Previous
work from our laboratory had also indicated that Cin8 is differentially phosphorylated during late anaphase at three cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) specific sites located in its motor domain. In vivo, this phosphorylation causes Cin8 detachment from the spindles, reduces spindle elongation rate and aids in maintaining proper spindle morphology (Avunie-Masala et al., 2011). Here, we examined the in vitro motile properties of Cin8 by a single-molecule fluorescence motility assay. To study the effect of phosphorylation, we examined the activity of phosphorylation-deficient and phosphorylation-mimic mutant of Cin8. The analysis was done in whole cell extracts as well as on purified Cin8 samples. We found that addition of negative charge in the phospho-mimic mutant weakens the MT-motor interaction and alters the motile properties of Cin8. These results indicate that phosphorylation of Cin8 in the catalytic domain, regulates its motor function.
Original languageEnglish GB
Pages (from-to)135A-135A
JournalBiophysical Journal
Volume108
Issue number2
StatePublished - 27 Jan 2015

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