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Biology subjects

Fulcher, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Fulcher, L..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

HMMR/RHAMM recruits SACK1D/FAM83D-CK1α complex at the mitotic spindle to control spindle alignment

The SACK1D/FAM83D-CK1 complex assembles at the mitotic spindle to orchestrate proper spindle positioning and error-free progression through mitosis. The full molecular picture of how this complex assembles and disassembles over the cell division cycle remains to be fully defined. Here, we show that HMMR is critical for SACK1D-CK1 complex formation at the spindle, co-localizes with the SACK1D-CK1 complex throughout mitosis, and is necessary for correct mitotic spindle alignment. We find that HMMR binds to the C-terminal -helix of SACK1D, and this helix is also important for the mitotic interaction between SACK1D and CK1. We demonstrate that HMMR binding stabilizes SACK1D. We map the mitotic hyperphosphorylation sites on SACK1D and show that this hyperphosphorylation signals the destruction of SACK1D upon mitotic exit. The destruction also requires the C-terminal -helix of SACK1D, suggesting that hyperphosphorylation of SACK1D in mitosis potentially exposes the C-terminal degron sequences resident on SACK1D. This study provides key molecular insights into the assembly and fate of the HMMR-SACK1D-CK1 complex at the mitotic spindle.

cell biology↗

MDM2 acts as a timer reporting the length of mitosis

Delays in mitosis trigger p53-dependent arrest in G1 of the following cell cycle, enabling cells to respond to changes that would otherwise promote chromosome instability and aneuploidy 1-10. We find that MDM2, the p53 ubiquitin ligase, is a key component of the timer mechanism triggering G1 arrest in response to prolonged mitosis. This timer function arises because MDM2 has a short half-life and ongoing protein synthesis is therefore necessary to maintain its steady-state concentration. Due to the attenuation of protein synthesis in mitosis, the amount of MDM2 gradually falls during mitosis, but normally remains above a critical threshold for p53 regulation at the onset of G1. When mitosis is extended by prolonged spindle assembly checkpoint activation, the amount of MDM2 drops below this threshold, stabilising p53. Subsequent p53-dependent p21 accumulation in the following G1 then channels cells into a prolonged cell cycle arrest, whereas abrogation of the response in p53-deficient cells allows them to bypass this crucial defence mechanism.

cell biology↗