title: The CeCDC-14 phosphatase is required for cytokinesis in the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo.
abstract: In all eukaryotic organisms, the physical separation of two nascent cells must be coordinated with chromosome segregation and mitotic exit. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe this coordination depends on a number of genes that cooperate in intricate regulatory pathways termed mitotic exit network and septum initiation network, respectively. Here we have explored the function of potentially homologous genes in a metazoan organism, Caenorhabditis elegans, using RNA-mediated interference. Of all the genes tested, only depletion of CeCDC-14, the C. elegans homologue of the budding yeast dual-specificity phosphatase Cdc14p (Clp1/Flp1p in fission yeast), caused embryonic lethality. We show that CeCDC-14 is required for cytokinesis but may be dispensable for progression of the early embryonic cell cycles. In response to depletion of CeCDC-14, embryos fail to establish a central spindle, and several proteins normally found at this structure are mislocalized. CeCDC-14 itself localizes to the central spindle in anaphase and to the midbody in telophase. It colocalizes with the mitotic kinesin ZEN-4, and the two proteins depend on each other for correct localization. These findings identify the CDC14 phosphatase as an important regulator of central spindle formation and cytokinesis in a metazoan organism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gruneberg
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glotzer
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gartner
authors.forename: Erich A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nigg
mesh_terms: D000705:Anaphase; D000818:Animals; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D016547:Kinesins / Q000378:metabolism; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000201:enzymology; D013692:Telophase; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C074860:CDC14 protein, S cerevisiae; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; C114455:ZEN-4 protein, C elegans; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C576962:ark1 protein, S pombe; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; D016547:Kinesins