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MAPK/ERK activity is required for the successful progression of mitosis in sea urchin embryos

Odile Mulner-Lorillon1, Héloïse Chassé1, Julia Morales1

  • 1Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Translation Cell Cycle and Development, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS90074, F-29688 Roscoff cedex, France; CNRS, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS90074, F-29688 Roscoff cedex, France.

Developmental Biology
|December 4, 2016
PubMed

Insights

The MEK/MAPK/ERK pathway is crucial for cell cycle progression in sea urchin embryos. Its activation ensures proper chromatin and spindle organization by regulating protein synthesis.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, specifically the MEK/MAPK/ERK cascade, plays critical roles in cellular processes.
  • Understanding the precise functions of MAPK/ERK during cell cycle progression is essential for comprehending fundamental biological mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the MEK/MAPK/ERK cascade in cell cycle progression using sea urchin embryos.
  • To determine the specific timing and requirements of MAPK/ERK activation during the cell cycle.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized sea urchin embryos as a model system.
  • Inhibited specific fractions of MAPK/ERK activity to observe cellular responses.
  • Analyzed DNA replication, CDK1 activation, chromatin and spindle organization, protein synthesis, cyclin B accumulation, and spindle checkpoint activation.

Main Results:

  • MEK/MAPK/ERK activation is essential between S-phase and M-phase for proper cell cycle progression.
  • Inhibition of MAPK/ERK did not affect DNA replication or CDK1 activation but profoundly altered chromatin and spindle organization.
  • Absence of MAPK/ERK activation led to reduced protein synthesis, altered cyclin B accumulation, increased 4E-BP levels, and spindle checkpoint activation.

Conclusions:

  • MAPK/ERK activity is required for synthesizing proteins involved in early chromatin/microtubule attachment.
  • Failure of this MAPK/ERK-dependent step triggers a checkpoint involving 4E-BP, reducing protein translation to conserve cellular energy.
Keywords:
Cell cycle checkpointEmbryonic cell divisionMAPK/ERK pathway

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