Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
07:14
Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations
Published on: September 20, 2019
Aurora B regulates formin mDia3 in achieving metaphase chromosome alignment
Lina Cheng1, Jiayin Zhang, Sana Ahmad
1Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Developmental Cell
|March 15, 2011
Summary
The formin mDia3 protein is crucial for aligning chromosomes during cell division by interacting with microtubules. Aurora B kinase phosphorylation of mDia3 regulates this process, ensuring accurate chromosome segregation.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis relies on correct kinetochore-spindle attachments.
- The formin mDia3 protein has been implicated in various cellular processes, but its specific role in mitosis remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the formin mDia3 in chromosome alignment during mitosis.
- To determine the mechanism by which mDia3 contributes to proper kinetochore-microtubule interactions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mDia3 mutants (nonphosphorylatable and phosphomimetic) in cell-based assays.
- Performed in vitro binding and microtubule stabilization assays with purified mDia3 and Aurora B kinase.
- Analyzed chromosome alignment and kinetochore-microtubule fiber formation in treated cells.
Main Results:
- mDia3 is essential for metaphase chromosome alignment, independent of its actin nucleation activity.
- EB1-binding by mDia3 is critical for its function in chromosome alignment.
- Aurora B kinase phosphorylation of mDia3's FH2 domain reduces its microtubule-binding and stabilizing abilities.
- Cells with nonphosphorylatable mDia3 fail to position chromosomes correctly, while phosphomimetic mutants show unstable kinetochore fibers.
Conclusions:
- mDia3 plays a key role in establishing stable kinetochore-microtubule attachments for accurate chromosome segregation.
- Regulation of mDia3 by Aurora B phosphorylation is critical for its function in mitosis.
- These findings elucidate a novel mechanism for mitotic spindle-kinetochore interaction control.
More Related Videos
06:29Real-Time Monitoring of Aurora kinase A Activation using Conformational FRET Biosensors in Live Cells
Published on: July 30, 2020
08:33Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis
Published on: December 5, 2017
Related Concept Videos
02:57Attachment of Sister Chromatids
As cells progress into mitosis, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the condensed chromosomes are exposed to the array of bipolar microtubules of the mitotic spindle. The kinetochore, a large, disc-shaped protein complex, is present at the centromere region of the sister chromatids and acts as a binding site for the microtubules. Usually, the plus-end of a single microtubule is embedded within the kinetochore. However, some kinetochores first establish lateral contact with the side-wall of a...
02:11Forces Acting on Chromosomes
During mitosis, chromosome movements occur through the interplay of multiple piconewton level forces. In prometaphase, these forces help in chromosome assembly or congression at the equatorial plane, eventually leading to their alignment at the metaphase plate. The forces acting on the chromosomes are space and time-dependent; therefore, they vary with the position of the chromosomes as the cell progresses through mitosis.
Microtubules and motor proteins exert two types of forces on...
Microtubules and motor proteins exert two types of forces on...
02:50Spindle Assembly
Spindle assembly occurs through three, often coexisting, pathways – the centrosome-mediated pathway, the chromatin-mediated pathway, and the microtubule-mediated pathway – collectively contributing to form a robust spindle apparatus.
In most cells, centrosomes are the primary microtubule nucleation centers. In the centrosome-mediated pathway, the G2-prophase transition triggers centrosome maturation and increased microtubule nucleation. Progressive nucleation results in a microtubule array...
In most cells, centrosomes are the primary microtubule nucleation centers. In the centrosome-mediated pathway, the G2-prophase transition triggers centrosome maturation and increased microtubule nucleation. Progressive nucleation results in a microtubule array...
02:19The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint
The spindle assembly checkpoint is a molecular surveillance mechanism ensuring the fidelity of chromosome segregation during anaphase. The checkpoint monitors the completion of all the prerequisite steps before chromosome segregation to determine whether the segregation process should proceed or be delayed.
Many proteins function together to control the spindle assembly checkpoint. Mutations affecting these proteins may allow cells to proceed into anaphase prematurely, resulting in the...
Many proteins function together to control the spindle assembly checkpoint. Mutations affecting these proteins may allow cells to proceed into anaphase prematurely, resulting in the...
02:15M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis
Checkpoints throughout the cell cycle serve as safeguards and gatekeepers, allowing the cell cycle to progress in favorable conditions and slow or halt it in problematic ones. This regulation is known as the cell cycle control system.
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...
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...
02:15M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis
Checkpoints throughout the cell cycle serve as safeguards and gatekeepers, allowing the cell cycle to progress in favorable conditions and slow or halt it in problematic ones. This regulation is known as the cell cycle control system.
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...
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...