Aurora A activates D-TACC-Msps complexes exclusively at centrosomes to stabilize centrosomal microtubules

Centrosomes are the dominant sites of microtubule (MT) assembly during mitosis in animal cells, but it is unclear how this is achieved. Transforming acidic coiled coil (TACC) proteins stabilize MTs during mitosis by recruiting Minispindles (Msps)/XMAP215 proteins to centrosomes. TACC proteins can be...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of cell biology 2005-09, Vol.170 (7), p.1039-1046
Main Authors: Barros, Teresa P, Kinoshita, Kazuhisa, Hyman, Anthony A, Raff, Jordan W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies
Aurora Kinases
Cell Cycle Proteins - physiology
Cellular biology
Centrosome - chemistry
Centrosome - enzymology
Centrosome - physiology
Centrosomes
Drosophila
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila Proteins - analysis
Drosophila Proteins - genetics
Drosophila Proteins - metabolism
Embryos
Gene expression
Gene expression regulation
Macromolecular Substances - metabolism
Microtubule-Associated Proteins - analysis
Microtubule-Associated Proteins - genetics
Microtubule-Associated Proteins - metabolism
Microtubules
Microtubules - metabolism
Mitosis
Mitotic spindle apparatus
Mutation
Phosphorylation
Protein Kinases - physiology
Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases
Proteins
Serine - physiology
Somatic cells
Xenopus Proteins - metabolism
Xenopus Proteins - physiology
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Summary:Centrosomes are the dominant sites of microtubule (MT) assembly during mitosis in animal cells, but it is unclear how this is achieved. Transforming acidic coiled coil (TACC) proteins stabilize MTs during mitosis by recruiting Minispindles (Msps)/XMAP215 proteins to centrosomes. TACC proteins can be phosphorylated in vitro by Aurora A kinases, but the significance of this remains unclear. We show that Drosophila melanogaster TACC (D-TACC) is phosphorylated on Ser863 exclusively at centrosomes during mitosis in an Aurora A-dependent manner. In embryos expressing only a mutant form of D-TACC that cannot be phosphorylated on Ser863 (GFP-S863L), spindle MTs are partially destabilized, whereas astral MTs are dramatically destabilized. GFP-S863L is concentrated at centrosomes and recruits Msps there but cannot associate with the minus ends of MTs. We propose that the centrosomal phosphorylation of D-TACC on Ser863 allows D-TACC-Msps complexes to stabilize the minus ends of centrosome-associated MTs. This may explain why centrosomes are such dominant sites of MT assembly during mitosis.
ISSN:0021-9525
1540-8140
DOI:10.1083/jcb.200504097