Okadaic acid inhibits sister chromatid separation in mammalian cells.
Mitotic HeLa cells were treated with different concentrations of okadaic acid inhibiting phosphatase 2A activity alone or in addition to phosphatase 1 activity. Phosphatase 2A inhibition alone had no visible effect on mitosis, but inhibition of both phosphatase 1 and 2A produced mitotic abnormalities, including inhibition of anaphase mimicking the effect of colchicine. Recovery experiments in okadaic acid-free medium showed formation of diplochromosomes, indicating a failure of sister chromatid separation in the treated mitotic cells. The universality of the phosphatase 1 requirement in sister chromatid separation is discussed.
Ghosh
S
S
Institute of Cell and Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg.
Paweletz
N
N
D002842:Chromatids / Q000187:drug effects*; D004988:Ethers, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D009630:Nondisjunction, Genetic; D019319:Okadaic Acid; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D004988:Ethers, Cyclic; D019319:Okadaic Acid; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases