Mps3p is a novel component of the yeast spindle pole body that interacts with the yeast centrin homologue Cdc31p

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Identification of Cyclin-dependent Kinase 1 Specific Phosphorylation Sites by an In Vitro Kinase Assay
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Identification of Cyclin-dependent Kinase 1 Specific Phosphorylation Sites by an In Vitro Kinase Assay

Published on: May 3, 2018

Sue L Jaspersen1, Thomas H Giddings, Mark Winey

  • 1Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.

The Journal of Cell Biology
|December 18, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Accurate spindle pole body (SPB) duplication is vital for cell division. Researchers identified MPS3 as a key gene regulating the initial step of SPB duplication, essential for recruiting Cdc31p to the SPB half-bridge.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Accurate duplication of the spindle pole body (SPB) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is crucial for forming a bipolar mitotic spindle.
  • SPB duplication ensures proper chromosome segregation during cell division.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel genes involved in SPB assembly and duplication.
  • To characterize the function of a newly identified gene, MPS3, in the SPB duplication process.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of temperature-sensitive yeast mutants for defects in SPB incorporation of Spc42p.
  • Execution point analysis to determine the timing of MPS3 function during the cell cycle.
  • In vitro binding assays to investigate protein-protein interactions.

Main Results:

  • A mutation in MPS3 (mps3-1) leads to defects in SPB duplication, causing cells to arrest with monopolar spindles.
  • MPS3 function is required early in the G1 phase for the initial step of SPB duplication.
  • Mps3p, an integral membrane protein, localizes to the SPB half-bridge and is necessary for recruiting Cdc31p.

Conclusions:

  • MPS3 is an essential gene required for the initiation of SPB duplication.
  • Mps3p plays a critical role in SPB duplication by recruiting the yeast centrin homologue, Cdc31p, to the SPB half-bridge.
  • This study elucidates a novel mechanism in SPB duplication involving Mps3p and Cdc31p.

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