Aurora-A kinase is required for centrosome maturation in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Centrosomes mature as cells enter mitosis, accumulating gamma-tubulin and other pericentriolar material (PCM) components. This occurs concomitant with an increase in the number of centrosomally organized microtubules (MTs). Here, we use RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) to examine the role of the aurora-A kinase, AIR-1, during centrosome maturation in Caenorhabditis elegans. In air-1(RNAi) embryos, centrosomes separate normally, an event that occurs before maturation in C. elegans. After nuclear envelope breakdown, the separated centrosomes collapse together, and spindle assembly fails. In mitotic air-1(RNAi) embryos, centrosomal alpha-tubulin fluorescence intensity accumulates to only 40% of wild-type levels, suggesting a defect in the maturation process. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that AIR-1 is required for the increase in centrosomal gamma-tubulin and two other PCM components, ZYG-9 and CeGrip, as embryos enter mitosis. Furthermore, the AIR-1-dependent increase in centrosomal gamma-tubulin does not require MTs. These results suggest that aurora-A kinases are required to execute a MT-independent pathway for the recruitment of PCM during centrosome maturation.
Hannak
E
E
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
Kirkham
M
M
Hyman
A A
AA
Oegema
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D064096:Aurora Kinase A; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018385:Centrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; D064096:Aurora Kinase A; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C576939:air-1 protein, C elegans; D015739:Nocodazole