Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 26, 2026

A Bilingual Computational Workflow for Identifying Potential PLK1 Inhibitors in American Sign Language and English
Published on: April 3, 2026
Polo-like kinase 3 is Golgi localized and involved in regulating Golgi fragmentation during the cell cycle
Qin Ruan1, Qi Wang, Suqing Xie
1Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
Abstract:
The Golgi apparatus undergoes extensive fragmentation during mitosis in animal cells. Protein kinases play a critical role during fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus. We reported here that Polo-like kinase 3 (Plk3) may be an important mediator during Golgi breakdown. Specifically, Plk3 was concentrated at the Golgi apparatus in HeLa and A549 cells during interphase. At the onset of mitosis, Plk3 signals disintegrated and redistributed in a manner similar to those of Golgi stacks. Nocodazole activated Plk3 kinase activity, correlating with redistribution of Plk3 signals and Golgi fragmentation. In addition, treatment with brefeldin A (BFA), a Golgi-specific poison, also resulted in disappearance of concentrated Plk3 signals. Plk3 interacted with giantin, a Golgi-specific protein. Expression of Plk3, but not the kinase-defective Plk3 (Plk3(K52R)), resulted in significant Golgi breakdown. Given its role in cell cycle progression, Plk3 may be a protein kinase involved in regulation of Golgi fragmentation during the cell cycle.
Related Concept Videos
Golgi Matrix Proteins
One of the first identified Golgi matrix proteins was GM130, a rod-like protein located in the cis-Golgi. Subsequently, many Golgi...
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis
Cyclin-dependent kinases, or Cdks, work in concert with cyclins to control cell cycle transitions. M-Cdk, a complex of Cdk1 bound to M cyclin, is a well-known example of this coordinated control that drives the transition from the G2 to the M phase.
M cyclin...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity
Negative Regulator Molecules
Positive Regulator Molecules

