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A single Aurora kinase found in non-vertebrate deuterostomes is assumed to represent the ancestor of vertebrate Auroras A/B/C. However, the tunicate Oikopleura dioica, a member of the sister group to vertebrates, possesses two Aurora kinases (Aurora1 and Aurora2) that are expressed in proliferative cells and reproductive organs. Previously, we have shown that Aurora kinases relocate from organizing centers to meiotic nuclei and were enriched on centromeric regions as meiosis proceeds to metaphase I. Here, we assessed their respective functions in oogenic meiosis using dsRNA interferences. We found that Aurora1 (Aur1) was involved in meiotic spindle organization and chromosome congression, probably through the regulation of microtubule dynamics, whereas Aurora2 (Aur2) was crucial for chromosome condensation and meiotic spindle assembly. In vitro kinase assays showed that Aur1 and Aur2 had comparable levels of kinase activities. Using yeast two-hybrid library screening, we identified a few novel interaction proteins for Aur1, including c-Jun-amino-terminal kinase-interacting protein 4, cohesin loader Scc2, and mitochondrial carrier homolog 2, suggesting that Aur1 may have an altered interaction network and participate in the regulation of microtubule motors and cohesin complexes in O. dioica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correct chromosome segregation in mitosis relies on chromosome biorientation, in which sister kinetochores attach to microtubules from opposite spindle poles prior to segregation. To establish biorientation, aberrant kinetochore–microtubule interactions must be resolved through the error correction process. During error correction, kinetochore–microtubule interactions are exchanged (swapped) if aberrant, but the exchange must stop when biorientation is established. In this article, we discuss recent findings in budding yeast, which have revealed fundamental molecular mechanisms promoting this "swap and stop" process for error correction. Where relevant, we also compare the findings in budding yeast with mechanisms in higher eukaryotes. Evidence suggests that Aurora B kinase differentially regulates kinetochore attachments to the microtubule end and its lateral side and switches relative strength of the two kinetochore–microtubule attachment modes, which drives the exchange of kinetochore–microtubule interactions to resolve aberrant interactions. However, Aurora B kinase, recruited to centromeres and inner kinetochores, cannot reach its targets at kinetochore–microtubule interface when tension causes kinetochore stretching, which stops the kinetochore–microtubule exchange once biorientation is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S-palmitoylation, catalyzed by a family of 23 zinc finger Asp-His-His-Cys (DHHC) domain-containing (ZDHHC) protein acyltransferases localized on the cell membrane. However, stemness genes modulated by ZDHHCs in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain to be defined. Previously, we have constructed a network of cancer stem cell genes, including INCENP, based on mRNA stemness indices (mRNAsi) of LUAD. INCENP has the function of a chromosomal passenger complex locating to centromeres, which is performed by the conserved region of its N-terminal domain. INCENP protein with a deletion of the first non-conserved 26 amino acid sequence failed to target centromeres. However, the exact function of the deleted sequence has not been elucidated. To identify novel cancer stem cell-relevant palmitoylated proteins and responsible ZDHHC enzymes in LUAD, we analyzed multi-omics data obtained from the database of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA). ZDHHC5 is distinguished from the ZDHHC family for being up-regulated in mRNA and protein levels and associated with malignant prognosis. ZDHHC5 was positively associated with INCENP, and the correlation score increased with LUAD stages. CSS-Palm results showed Cys15 was the S-palmitoylation site of INCENP. Interestingly, Cys15 locates in the 1–26 aa sequence of INCENP, and is a conserved site across species. As INCENP is a nuclear protein, we predicted that the nuclear localization signal of ZDHHC5 was specific to the importin αβ pathway, and the result of immunofluorescence proves that ZDHHC5 is located in the nucleoplasm, in addition to the plasma membrane. Therefore, our study indicates the S-palmitoylation of INCENP mediated by ZDHHC5 as a potential mechanism of S-palmitoylation to modulate CSCs in LUAD.

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of putative assembly scaffolds has been proposed to drive the biogenesis of membraneless compartments. LLPS scaffolds are usually identified through in vitro LLPS assays with single macromolecules (homotypic), but the predictive value of these assays remains poorly characterized. Here, we apply a strategy to evaluate the robustness of homotypic LLPS assays. When applied to the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), which undergoes LLPS in vitro and localizes to centromeres to promote chromosome biorientation, LLPS propensity in vitro emerged as an unreliable predictor of subcellular localization. In vitro CPC LLPS in aqueous buffers was enhanced by commonly used crowding agents. Conversely, diluted cytomimetic media dissolved condensates of the CPC and of several other proteins. We also show that centromeres do not seem to nucleate LLPS, nor do they promote local, spatially restrained LLPS of the CPC. Our strategy can be adapted to purported LLPS scaffolds of other membraneless compartments. [Display omitted] • Homotypic LLPS assays are not predictive of subcellular localization • Cytomimetic media dissolve LLPS • LLPS grammar depends on solvent as much as on solute • Local LLPS nucleation or binding can be distinguished Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), determined by limited solubility in the cellular milieu, is believed to drive subcellular compartmentalization. Hedtfeld et al. discuss a general validation strategy to assess the role of LLPS in subcellular compartmentalization. When applied to the chromosome passenger complex (CPC), this strategy identifies specific molecular interactions, rather than LLPS, as the CPC localization driver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to chromatin bridges, the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) delays completion of cytokinesis (abscission) to prevent chromosome breakage. Here, we discuss recent findings from our lab showing that an ATM-CHK2-INCENP pathway imposes the abscission checkpoint in human cells by regulating CPC midbody-localization.

Background/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a difficult problem that significantly affects the survival of the afflicted patients. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the functions of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in HCC. In the present study, we aimed to explore the potential roles of PVT1 in the tumorigenesis and progression of HCC. Methods: In this study, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was applied to detect the differences between PVT1 expression in HCC tissues and cell lines. Then, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were searched to confirm the relationship between PVT1 expression and HCC. Moreover, a meta-analysis comprising TCGA, GEO, and RT-qPCR was applied to estimate the expression of PVT1 in HCC. Then, cell proliferation was evaluated in vitro. A chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model of HCC was constructed to measure the effect on tumorigenicity in vivo. To further explore the sponge microRNA (miRNA) of PVT1 in HCC, we used TCGA, GEO, a gene microarray, and target prediction algorithms. TCGA and GEO and the gene microarray were used to select the differentially expressed miRNAs, and the different target prediction algorithms were applied to predict the target miRNAs of PVT1. Results: We found that PVT1 was markedly overexpressed in HCC tissue than in normal liver tissues based on both RT-qPCR and data from TCGA, and the overexpression of PVT1 was closely related to the gender and race of the patient as well as to higher HCC tumor grades. Also, a meta-analysis of 840 cases from multiple sources (TCGA, GEO and the results of our in-house RT-qPCR) showed that PVT1 gained moderate value in discriminating HCC patients from normal controls, confirming the results of RT-qPCR. Additionally, the upregulation of PVT1 could promote HCC cell proliferation in vitro and vivo. Based on the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) theory, the PVT1/miR-424-5p/INCENP axis was finally selected for further research. The in silico prediction revealed that there were complementary sequences between PVT1 and miR-424-5p as well as between miR-424-5p and INCENP. Furthermore, a negative correlation trend was found between miR-424-5p and PVT1 based on RT-qPCR, whereas a positive correlation trend was found between PVT1 and INCENP based on data from TCGA. Also, INCENP small interfering RNA (siRNA) could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and viability. Conclusions: We hypothesized that PVT1 could affect the biological function of HCC cells via targeting miR-424-5p and regulating INCENP. Focusing on the new insight of the PVT1/miR-424-5p/INCENP axis, this study provides a novel perspective for HCC therapeutic strategies.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to participate in the development of multiple cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A growing number of studies have demonstrated that lncRNA myocardial infarction‐associated transcript (MIAT) played an oncogenic role in several human malignancies, but its expression and function in ESCC remain unknown. In this study, we found that MIAT was significantly increased in ESCC tissues, as well as cell lines. Downregulation of MIAT suppressed ESCC cell proliferation, cell cycle, migration, and invasion. Mechanical studies revealed that MIAT promoted ESCC cell proliferation and cell cycle by acting as a competitively endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to upregulate the inner centromere protein (INCENP) expression through sponging miR‐1301‐3p. Furthermore, we uncovered that MIAT‐SOX2 formed a positive feedback loop to facilitate cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC. Our findings indicated that MIAT promoted ESCC progression via targeting INCENP/miR‐1301‐3p axis and interacting with SOX2, suggesting novel potential therapeutic targets for ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to chromatin bridges, the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) delays completion of cytokinesis (abscission) to prevent chromosome breakage. Here, we discuss recent findings from our lab showing that an ATM-CHK2-INCENP pathway imposes the abscission checkpoint in human cells by regulating CPC midbody-localization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a difficult problem that significantly affects the survival of the afflicted patients. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the functions of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in HCC. In the present study, we aimed to explore the potential roles of PVT1 in the tumorigenesis and progression of HCC. Methods: In this study, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was applied to detect the differences between PVT1 expression in HCC tissues and cell lines. Then, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were searched to confirm the relationship between PVT1 expression and HCC. Moreover, a meta-analysis comprising TCGA, GEO, and RT-qPCR was applied to estimate the expression of PVT1 in HCC. Then, cell proliferation was evaluated in vitro. A chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model of HCC was constructed to measure the effect on tumorigenicity in vivo. To further explore the sponge microRNA (miRNA) of PVT1 in HCC, we used TCGA, GEO, a gene microarray, and target prediction algorithms. TCGA and GEO and the gene microarray were used to select the differentially expressed miRNAs, and the different target prediction algorithms were applied to predict the target miRNAs of PVT1. Results: We found that PVT1 was markedly overexpressed in HCC tissue than in normal liver tissues based on both RT-qPCR and data from TCGA, and the overexpression of PVT1 was closely related to the gender and race of the patient as well as to higher HCC tumor grades. Also, a meta-analysis of 840 cases from multiple sources (TCGA, GEO and the results of our in-house RT-qPCR) showed that PVT1 gained moderate value in discriminating HCC patients from normal controls, confirming the results of RT-qPCR. Additionally, the upregulation of PVT1 could promote HCC cell proliferation in vitro and vivo. Based on the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) theory, the PVT1/miR-424-5p/INCENP axis was finally selected for further research. The in silico prediction revealed that there were complementary sequences between PVT1 and miR-424-5p as well as between miR-424-5p and INCENP. Furthermore, a negative correlation trend was found between miR-424-5p and PVT1 based on RT-qPCR, whereas a positive correlation trend was found between PVT1 and INCENP based on data from TCGA. Also, INCENP small interfering RNA (siRNA) could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and viability. Conclusions: We hypothesized that PVT1 could affect the biological function of HCC cells via targeting miR-424-5p and regulating INCENP. Focusing on the new insight of the PVT1/miR-424-5p/INCENP axis, this study provides a novel perspective for HCC therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aurora kinase belongs to serine/threonine kinase family which controls cell division. Therapeutic inhibition of Aurora kinase showed great promise as probable anticancer regime because of its important role during cell division. Here, in this review, we have carried out exhaustive study of various synthetic molecules reported as Aurora kinase inhibitors and developed as lead molecule at various stages of clinical trials from its discovery in 1995 to till date. We reported details of small molecules, specifically inhibiting all 3 types of Aurora kinases, which includes extensive literature search in various database like various scientific journals, patents, scifinder and PubMed database, internet resources, books, etc. IC 50 values of tumor growth inhibition, in-vitro and in-vivo activity along with clinical trial data. Here, we took efforts to describe essence of Aurora kinase and its inhibition which could be used to develop anti-mitotic drug for the treatment of cancer. In conclusion, we also discuss future perspectives for development of novel inhibitors and their scope in drug development process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) acts as a key modulator for mitosis and cell cytokinesis. High levels of CPC proteins are frequently observed in multiple cancers and are correlated with more progressive malignant behaviors. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether CPC components or their combinations could be used to assess the clinical risk of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: The expression levels of four CPC proteins - aurora B kinase (AURKB), borealin, inner centromere protein (INCENP), and survivin - were evaluated using immunohistochemistry in an independent cohort of NSCLC specimens. A molecular predictor model was developed based on the combination of the four CPC proteins. Results: All the CPC components were overexpressed in NSCLC tumors compared with their paired adjacent normal lung tissues. Survivin overexpression was significantly correlated with late tumor stage (P=0.0166). High expressions of AURKB, INCENP, and survivin, but not borealin, were associated with shorter survival in patients with NSCLC. The constructed 4-CPC-gene model divided the cohort into two different subgroups with significantly different prognoses (hazard ratio, HR =2.8915 [95% confidence interval, CI: 1.5187-5.5052]; P=0.0013) and was retained as an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis (HR =2.4398 [95% CI: 1.2631-4.7127], P=0.0082). Moreover, the 4-CPC-gene model demonstrated a higher predictive ability for overall survival than each individual CPC biomarker. Conclusion: Taken together, our study suggests that a molecular prognostic model based on simultaneous detection of CPC components could serve as a complement to current clinical risk stratification approaches for patients with NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chromosome passenger complex (CPC) is an essential regulator of mitosis and cytokinesis. The CPC consists of Aurora B kinase, inner centromere protein (INCENP), and the targeting subunits survivin and borealin/Dasra B. INCENP is a scaffolding subunit for the CPC and activates Aurora B via its conserved IN-box domain. We show that overexpression of soluble IN-box in HeLa cells affects endogenous CPC localization and produces a significant increase in multinucleated and micronucleated cells consistent with CPC loss of function. The dominant-negative effect of soluble IN-box expression depends on residues corresponding to hINCENP W845 and/or F881, suggesting that these are essential for Aurora B binding in vivo. We then screened a targeted library of small (five to nine residues long) circular peptide (CP) IN-box fragments generated using split intein circular ligation of proteins and peptides (SICLOPPS) methodology. We identified a number of CPs that caused modest but reproducible increases in rates of multinucleated and micronucleated cells. Our results provide proof of concept that inhibition of the Aurora B–IN-box interaction is a viable strategy for interfering with CPC function in vivo.

Abstract: The kinetochore plays important roles in cell cycle progression. Interactions between chromosomes and spindle microtubules allow chromosomes to congress to the middle of the cell and to segregate the sister chromatids into daughter cells in mitosis. The chromosome passenger complex (CPC), composed of the Aurora B kinase and its regulatory subunits INCENP, Survivin, and Borealin, plays multiple roles in these chromosomal events. In the genome of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, which has holocentric chromosomes, the CPC components and their molecular interactions were highly conserved. In contrast to monocentric species, however, the silkworm CPC co-localized with the chromatin-driven spindles on the upper side of prometaphase chromosomes without forming bipolar mitotic spindles. Depletion of the CPC by RNAi arrested the cell cycle progression at prometaphase and disrupted the microtubule network of the chromatin-driven spindles. Interestingly, depletion of mitotic centromere-associated kinesin (MCAK) recovered formation of the microtubule network but did not overcome the cell cycle arrest at prometaphase. These results suggest that the CPC modulates the chromatin-induced spindle assembly and metaphase congression of silkworm holocentric chromosomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • The CPC governs chromosomal and cytoskeleton processes during cell division. • sABs were generated by phage display against components of the CPC. • sABs discriminate between the forms of the CPC in various stages of mitosis. • IP/Mass Spec identifies different sets of complexes during mitotic progression. • sABs are novel reagents to profile different CPC assemblies formed in mitosis. High performance affinity reagents are essential tools to enable biologists to profile the cellular location and composition of macromolecular complexes undergoing dynamic reorganization. To support further development of such tools, we have assembled a high-throughput phage display pipeline to generate Fab-based affinity reagents that target different dynamic forms of a large macromolecular complex, using the Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC), as an example. The CPC is critical for the maintenance of chromosomal and cytoskeleton processes during cell division. The complex contains 4 protein components: Aurora B kinase, survivin, borealin and INCENP. The CPC acts as a node to dynamically organize other partnering subcomplexes to build multiple functional structures during mitotic progression. Using phage display mutagenesis, a cohort of synthetic antibodies (sABs) were generated against different domains of survivin, borealin and INCENP. Immunofluorescence established that a set of these sABs can discriminate between the form of the CPC complex in the midbody versus the spindle. Others localize to targets, which appear to be less organized, in the nucleus or cytoplasm. This differentiation suggests that different CPC epitopes have dynamic accessibility depending upon the mitotic state of the cell. An Immunoprecipitation/Mass Spectrometry analysis was performed using sABs that bound specifically to the CPC in either the midbody or MT spindle macromolecular assemblies. Thus, sABs can be exploited as high performance reagents to profile the accessibility of different components of the CPC within macromolecular assemblies during different stages of mitosis suggesting this high throughput approach will be applicable to other complex macromolecular systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Src-family tyrosine kinases are aberrantly activated in cancers, and this activation is associated with malignant tumor progression. v-Src, encoded by the v-src transforming gene of the Rous sarcoma virus, is a mutant variant of the cellular proto-oncogene c-Src. Although investigations with temperature sensitive mutants of v-Src have shown that v-Src induces many oncogenic processes, the effects on cell division are unknown. Here, we show that v-Src inhibits cellular proliferation of HCT116, HeLa S3 and NIH3T3 cells. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that inducible expression of v-Src results in an accumulation of 4N cells. Time-lapse analysis revealed that binucleation is induced through the inhibition of cytokinesis, a final step of cell division. The localization of Mklp1, which is essential for cytokinesis, to the spindle midzone is inhibited in v-Src-expressing cells. Intriguingly, Aurora B, which regulates Mklp1 localization at the midzone, is delocalized from the spindle midzone and the midbody but not from the metaphase chromosomes upon v-Src expression. Mklp2, which is responsible for the relocation of Aurora B from the metaphase chromosomes to the spindle midzone, is also lost from the spindle midzone. These results suggest that v-Src inhibits cytokinesis through the delocalization of Mklp1 and Aurora B from the spindle midzone, resulting in binucleation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aurora B kinase forms the enzymatic core of the Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC) and is a master regulator of mitosis. Understanding the regulation of Aurora B is critical to illuminate its role in mitosis. INCENP, Survivin and Borealin have all been known to promote Aurora B activation. In this study, we have identified the Aurora A activator protein TPX2 as a novel scaffold and co-activator protein of the CPC. Studies utilizing M-phase Xenopus egg extracts (XEE) revealed that the immunodepletion of endogenous TPX2 from XEE decreases Aurora B–Survivin and Aurora B–INCENP interactions, leading to a consequent reduction in Aurora B activity. Further, residues 138 to 328 of Xenopus TPX2 (TPX2 B) are sufficient to enhance Aurora B–Survivin association and Aurora B kinase activity in vitro. Importantly, experiments with pancreatic cancer cell lines suggest that this mechanism of Aurora B activation by TPX2 is likely to be conserved in human cells. Strikingly, the overexpression of human TPX2 B in HeLa cells causes defects in metaphase chromosome alignment and INCENP localization. Thus, in addition to its already established role as an Aurora A activator, our data support the role of TPX2 as a novel co-activator of Aurora kinase B. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cell division is orchestrated by a complex protein network that aims to maintenance of genomic stability. Visualisation of mitotic protein–protein associations in space and time has been limited due to the lack of proper biochemical and easy-to-use imaging tools. Here we report adaptation of the in situ proximity ligation assay (is-PLA) to study mitotic protein interactions with spatio-temporal resolution. We examined the composition of the Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC) at various mitotic phases and after chemical treatments using is-PLA with antibodies against the core CPC subunits Aurora B, INCENP, Survivin and Borealin. Our results support the notion that the core CPC functions as a single structural unit at centromeres in early mitosis and at central spindle after the onset of anaphase. Treatment of cells with the Aurora B inhibitor ZM447439 diminished the is-PLA signals at centromeres suggesting that Aurora B activity contributes to structural maintenance and/or proper subcellular localization of the core CPC. Is-PLA-based analysis of interaction between INCENP and Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) proposes that the kinase co-travels with CPC during late mitosis. The data illustrates both the strengths and limitations of the is-PLA in the analysis of mitotic macromolecule associations at sub-organelle level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aurora, an essential mitotic kinase, is highly conserved during evolution. Most vertebrates have at least two Aurora kinases, Aurora- A and Aurora-B, which have distinct functions in the centrosome-spindle and inner centromere-midbody, respectively. However, some non-vertebrate deuterostomes have only a single Aurora. It remains to be verified whether the single Aurora performs the same functions as vertebrate Auroras A and B combined. We have isolated a cDNA of a single Aurora (ApAurora) from the echinoderm starfish, Asterina pectinifera, and show that ApAurora displays most features of both Aurora-A and Aurora-B in starfish oocytes and early embryos. Furthermore, ApAurora that is stably expressed in HeLa cells can substitute for both human Aurora-A and Aurora-B when either is reduced by RNAi. A single ApAurora thus has properties of both Aurora-A and Aurora-B in starfish eggs and HeLa cells. Together with phylogenetic analysis indicating that ApAurora forms a clade with all types of vertebrate Auroras and single Auroras of non-vertebrate deuterostomes, our observations support the idea that the single Aurora found in non-vertebrate deuterostomes represents the ancestor that gave rise to various types of vertebrate Auroras. This study thus provides functional evidence for phylogenetic considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aurora kinase-A and -B are key regulators of the cell cycle and tumorigenesis. It has remained a mystery why these 2 Aurora kinases, although highly similar in protein sequence and structure. are distinct in subcellular localization and function. Here, we report the striking finding that a single amino acid residue is responsible for these differences. We replaced the Gly-198 of Aurora-A with the equivalent residue Asn-142 of Aurora-B and found that in HeLa cells, Aurora-A[supG198N] was recruited to the inner centromere in metaphase and the midzone in anaphase, reminiscent of the Aurora-B localization. Moreover, Aurora-A[supG198N] compensated for the loss of Aurora-B in chromosome misalignment and cell premature exit from mitosis. Furthermore, Aurora-A[supG198N] formed a cornplex with the Aurora-B partners, INCENP and Survivin, and its localization depended on this interaction. Aurora-A[supG198N] phosphorylated the Aurora-B substrates INCENP and Survivin in vitro. Therefore, we propose that the presence of Gly or Asn at a single site assigns Aurora-A and -B to their respective partners and thus to their distinctive subcellular localizations and functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As mitosis progresses, the chromosomal passenger proteins (CPPs) Survivin, Aurora B, INCENP and Borealin dynamically colocalize to mitotic structures. Chromosomal passenger proteins are already expressed during G2, whereas the nuclear envelope is only disassembled at the end of prophase. However, the mechanisms that modulate their nucleocytoplasmic localization before nuclear envelope breakdown (NEB) are poorly characterized. Using epitope-tagged proteins, we show that Aurora B, like Survivin, undergoes CRM1-mediated nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, although both proteins lack identifiable 'classical' nuclear transport signals. On the other hand, INCENP resides more stably in the nucleus and contains multiple nuclear localization signals. Finally, Borealin was detected in the nucleolus and the cytoplasm, but its cytoplasmic localization is not directly regulated by CRM1. Coexpression experiments indicate that the nuclear localization of Aurora B, but not of Survivin, is modulated by INCENP and that Survivin prevents the nucleolar accumulation of Borealin. Our data reveal that, in contrast to their closely related localization during mitosis, the nucleocytoplasmic localization of the CPPs before NEB is largely unrelated. Furthermore, the specific effect of INCENP and Survivin on the localization of Aurora B and Borealin, respectively, suggests that different complexes of CPPs may exist not only during mitosis, as recently reported, but also before NEB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: EVI5 has been shown to be a novel centrosomal protein in interphase cells. In this report, we demonstrate using immunofluorescence microscopy that EVI5 has a dynamic distribution during mitosis, being associated with the mitotic spindle through anaphase and remaining within the midzone and midbody until completion of cytokinesis. Knockdown of EVI5 using siRNA results in a multinucleate phenotype, which is consistent with an essential role for this protein in the completion of cytokinesis. The EVI5 protein also undergoes posttranslational modifications during the cell cycle, which involve phosphorylation in early mitosis and proteolytic cleavage during late mitosis and cytokinesis. Since the subcellular distribution of the EVI5 protein was similar to that characteristic of chromosomal passenger proteins during the terminal stages of cytokinesis, we used immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down approaches to demonstrate that EVI5 is associated with the aurora B kinase protein complex (INCENP, aurora B kinase and survivin). Together, these data provide evidence that EVI5 is an essential component of the protein machinery facilitating the final stages of cell septation at the end of mitosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The chromosomal passenger complex of Aurora B kinase, INCENP, and Survivin has essential regulatory roles at centromeres and the central spindle in mitosis. Here, we describe Borealin, a novel member of the complex. Approximately half of Aurora B in mitotic cells is complexed with INCENP, Borealin, and Survivin; and Borealin binds Survivin and 1NCENP in vitro. A second complex contains Aurora B and INCENP, but no Borealin or Survivin. Depletion of Borealin by RNA interference delays mitotic progression and results in kinetochorc-spindle misattachments and an increase in bipolar spindles associated with ectopic asters. The extra poles, which apparently form after chromosomes achieve a bipolar orientation, severely disrupt the partitioning of chromosomes in anaphase. Borealin depletion has little effect on histone H3 serine10 phosphorylation. These results implicate the chromosomal passenger holocomplex in the maintenance of spindle integrity and suggest that histone H3 serine10 phosphorylation is performed by an Aurora B-INCENP subcomplex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roberts syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised primarily by symmetric reduction of all limbs and growth retardation. Patients have been reported to have premature separation of heterochromatin regions of many chromosomes and abnormalities in cell cycle. Given the rarity of the syndrome, the linkage analysis approach is not suitable to identify the responsible gene. In this work, a cell line derived from a patient affected by Roberts syndrome was characterized by cell biology and molecular cytogenetics, including comparative genomic hybridization and spectral karyotype. No recurrent chromosomal rearrangements were identified. Thereafter, based on the fact that premature chromatide separation is a reliable marker of the disease, we used antisense oligonucleotide technologies to inhibit six genes involved in various steps of the correct chromosome segregation, such as chromosome cohesion, kinetochore assembling, spindle checkpoint and spindle formation. We found that the inhibition of INCENP, ZWINT-1, ZW10 genes results in the appearance of mitotic cells characterised by centromere separation, chromosome aneuploidy and micronuclei formation. In addition, INCENP, ZWINT-1, ZW10 antisense-treated chromosome morphology was very similar to that of Roberts chromosome when analysed by atomic force microscopy. We concluded that INCENP, ZWINT-1, ZW10 gene inhibition results in cellular phenocopies of Roberts syndrome. Taken together, these findings support a possible role of these genes in the pathogenesis of Roberts syndrome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]