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Microtubule minus end motors kinesin-14 and dynein drive nuclear congression in parallel pathways

Kathleen Scheffler1, Refael Minnes2, Vincent Fraisier1

  • 1Centre de Recherche and BioImaging Cell and Tissue Core Facility of the Institut Curie (PICT-IBiSA), Institut Curie, F-75248 Paris, France Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unite Mixte de Recherche 144, F-75248 Paris, France.

The Journal of Cell Biology
|April 15, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Fission yeast uses two motor proteins, Klp2 and dynein, to move nuclei together during cell fusion. This dual motor system ensures efficient nuclear congression for successful reproduction.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Motors
  • Nuclear Dynamics

Background:

  • Microtubules and motor proteins are essential for nuclear migration in biological processes like cell division and reproduction.
  • Nuclear migration is critical for cell polarity and sexual reproduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms of nuclear congression during fission yeast karyogamy.
  • To identify the motor proteins involved in guiding nuclei during cell fusion.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized microfluidic chambers for long-term imaging of nuclear migration.
  • Analyzed the roles of specific motor proteins, including Kinesin-14 Klp2 and dynein, in nuclear movement.

Main Results:

  • Identified a dual motor mechanism involving Klp2 and dynein for nuclear congression.
  • Klp2 facilitates MT cross-linking and sliding, while dynein pulls MTs, with distinct velocity profiles.
  • Discovered a novel role for dynein's light intermediate chain Dli1, independent of dynactin, in nuclear migration.

Conclusions:

  • Nuclear congression in fission yeast relies on the coordinated action of two distinct minus end-directed motor proteins.
  • This cooperative mechanism ensures efficient and precise nuclear positioning during karyogamy.

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