Human CKAP2L shows a cell cycle‐dependent expression pattern and exhibits microtubule‐stabilizing properties

• Published in: FEBS open bio 2024-09, Vol.14 (9), p.1526-1539
• Main Authors: Kwon, Hyerim, Joh, Jonathan Y., Hong, Kyung U.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Antigens; Cancer; Cell Cycle; Chromosomes; Cloning; Cytoskeleton; cytoskeleton‐associated protein 2; cytoskeleton‐associated protein 2‐like; Fibroblasts; Flow cytometry; Localization; Microcephaly; microtubule; Microtubule Cytoskeleton; Mitosis; mitotic spindle; Mutation; Neurogenesis; Polymerase chain reaction; Proteins; Tumor cell lines
• ISSN: 2211-5463; 2211-5463
• DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13864

Cytoskeleton‐associated protein 2‐like (CKAP2L) is a paralogue of cytoskeleton‐associated protein 2 (CKAP2). We characterized the expression pattern, subcellular localization, and microtubule‐stabilizing properties of human CKAP2L. The levels of both CKAP2L transcript and protein were cell cycle phase‐dependent, peaking during the G2/M phase and relatively high in certain human tissues, including testis, intestine, and spleen. CKAP2L protein was detectable in all human cancer cell lines we tested. CKAP2L localized to the mitotic spindle apparatus during mitosis, as reported previously. During interphase, however, CKAP2L localized mainly to the nucleus. Ectopic overexpression of CKAP2L resulted in ‘microtubule bundling’, and, consequently, an elevated CKAP2L level led to prolonged mitosis. These findings support the mitotic role of CKAP2L during the human cell cycle. CKAP2L (cytoskeleton‐associated protein 2‐like) is a relatively new mitotic spindle‐associated protein, associated with neural progenitors as well as various cancers. Its basic characteristics, however, are poorly defined. Our study shows (1) the expression pattern of human CKAP2L in different cell cycle phases, tissues, and cancer cell lines; (2) cell cycle‐dependent subcellular localization; (3) microtubule‐stabilizing property of CKAP2L.