AIR-2: An Aurora/Ipl1-related protein kinase associated with chromosomes and midbody microtubules is required for polar body extrusion and cytokinesis in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos.
An emerging family of kinases related to the Drosophila Aurora and budding yeast Ipl1 proteins has been implicated in chromosome segregation and mitotic spindle formation in a number of organisms. Unlike other Aurora/Ipl1-related kinases, the Caenorhabditis elegans orthologue, AIR-2, is associated with meiotic and mitotic chromosomes. AIR-2 is initially localized to the chromosomes of the most mature prophase I-arrested oocyte residing next to the spermatheca. This localization is dependent on the presence of sperm in the spermatheca. After fertilization, AIR-2 remains associated with chromosomes during each meiotic division. However, during both meiotic anaphases, AIR-2 is present between the separating chromosomes. AIR-2 also remains associated with both extruded polar bodies. In the embryo, AIR-2 is found on metaphase chromosomes, moves to midbody microtubules at anaphase, and then persists at the cytokinesis remnant. Disruption of AIR-2 expression by RNA- mediated interference produces entire broods of one-cell embryos that have executed multiple cell cycles in the complete absence of cytokinesis. The embryos accumulate large amounts of DNA and microtubule asters. Polar bodies are not extruded, but remain in the embryo where they continue to replicate. The cytokinesis defect appears to be late in the cell cycle because transient cleavage furrows initiate at the proper location, but regress before the division is complete. Additionally, staining with a marker of midbody microtubules revealed that at least some of the components of the midbody are not well localized in the absence of AIR-2 activity. Our results suggest that during each meiotic and mitotic division, AIR-2 may coordinate the congression of metaphase chromosomes with the subsequent events of polar body extrusion and cytokinesis.
Schumacher
J M
JM
Cell Biology of Development and Differentiation Group, ABL-Basic Research Program, NCI-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA.
Golden
A
A
Donovan
P J
PJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D064107:Aurora Kinase B; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D016764:Cell Polarity; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D011418:Prophase; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; D064107:Aurora Kinase B; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C491506:air-2 protein, C elegans; C576962:ark1 protein, S pombe