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Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations
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Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

Published on: September 20, 2019

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The LIV-1-GRPEL1 axis adjusts cell fate during anti-mitotic agent-damaged mitosis

Pingbo Chen1, Beibei Wang1, Qingqing Mo1

  • 1Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.

Ebiomedicine
|October 23, 2019
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The LIV-1-GRPEL1 axis controls cell death or survival during mitotic arrest. This axis regulates mitotic exit and apoptosis, offering new insights into cell fate mechanisms in cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Oncology
  • Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

  • Cellular response to mitotic poisons is critical for cancer treatment.
  • Mechanisms determining cell death versus survival during anti-mitotic drug exposure are largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the roles of SLC39A6 (LIV-1) and GrpE-like 1 (GRPEL1) in regulating mitotic exit and apoptosis.
  • To investigate the LIV-1-GRPEL1 axis in the context of anti-mitotic drug response and cancer.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro and in vivo studies using flow cytometry, western blotting, xenografts, and time-lapse imaging.
  • Protein interaction and ubiquitination analyses (GST pull-down, immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry).
  • Immunohistochemistry to assess LIV-1 expression in human cancers.

Main Results:

  • LIV-1 overexpression induced apoptosis; LIV-1 depletion promoted mitotic exit from arrest.
  • The LIV-1-GRPEL1 axis stabilizes GRPEL1 by preventing its ubiquitination.
  • This axis modulates mitotic arrest via PP2A-B55α activity and inhibits apoptosis by interacting with AIF.

Conclusions:

  • The LIV-1-GRPEL1 axis is a key regulator of both mitotic exit and apoptosis.
  • Dysregulation of this axis is common in human epithelial cancers, suggesting its therapeutic relevance.
  • This axis represents a novel mechanism for determining cell fate following mitotic damage.
Keywords:
Anti-mitotic agentsApoptosisHuman cancerLIV-1-GRPEL1 axisMitotic exit

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