Role of a novel coiled-coil domain-containing protein CCDC69 in regulating central spindle assembly

• Published in: Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.) Tex.), 2010-10, Vol.9 (20), p.4117-4129
• Main Authors: Pal, Debjani, Wu, Di, Haruta, Akiko, Matsumura, Fumio, Wei, Qize
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Aurora Kinase B; Aurora Kinases; Binding; Biology; Bioscience; Calcium; Cancer; Cell; Cell Cycle - physiology; Cell Cycle Proteins - genetics; Cell Cycle Proteins - metabolism; Cycle; GTPase-Activating Proteins - genetics; GTPase-Activating Proteins - metabolism; HeLa Cells; Humans; Landes; Microtubule-Associated Proteins - chemistry; Microtubule-Associated Proteins - genetics; Microtubule-Associated Proteins - metabolism; Microtubules - metabolism; Organogenesis; Polo-Like Kinase 1; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases - genetics; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - metabolism; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - genetics; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - metabolism; rhoA GTP-Binding Protein - metabolism; RNA Interference; Spindle Apparatus - metabolism; Spindle Apparatus - ultrastructure; Tissue Distribution
• ISSN: 1538-4101; 1551-4005
• DOI: 10.4161/cc.9.20.13387

The formation of the central spindle (or the spindle midzone) is essential for cytokinesis in animal cells. In this study, we report that coiled-coil domain-containing protein 69 (CCDC69) is implicated in controlling the assembly of central spindles and the recruitment of midzone components. Exogenous expression of CCDC69 in HeLa cells interfered with microtubule polymerization and disrupted the formation of bipolar mitotic spindles. Endogenous CCDC69 proteins were localized to the central spindle during anaphase. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of CCDC69 led to the formation of aberrant central spindles and disrupted the localization of midzone components such as aurora B kinase, protein regulator of cytokinesis 1 (PRC1), MgcRacGAP/HsCYK-4, and polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) at the central spindle. Aurora B kinase was found to bind to CCDC69 and this binding depended on the coiled-coil domains at the C-terminus of CCDC69. Further, disruption of aurora B function in HeLa cells by treatment with a small chemical inhibitor led to the mislocalization of CCDC69 at the central spindle. Our results indicate that CCDC69 acts as a scaffold to regulate the recruitment of midzone components and the assembly of central spindles.