title: Centrosome separation: respective role of microtubules and actin filaments.
abstract: In mammalian cells, the separation of centrosomes is a prerequisite for bipolar mitotic spindle assembly. We have investigated the respective contribution of the two cytoskeleton components, microtubules and actin filaments, in this process. Distances between centrosomes have been measured during cell cycle progression in Xenopus laevis XL2 cultured cells in the presence or absence of either network. We considered two stages in centrosome separation: the splitting stage, when centrosomes start to move apart (minimum distance of 1 microm), and the elongation stage (from 1 to 7 microm). In interphase, depolymerisation of microtubules by nocodazole significantly inhibited the splitting stage, while the elongation stage was, on the contrary, facilitated. In mitosis, while nocodazole treatment completely blocked spindle assembly, in prophase, we observed that 55% of the centrosomes separated, versus 94% in the control. Upon actin depolymerisation by latrunculin, splitting of the interphase centrosome was blocked, and cells entered mitosis with unseparated centrosomes. Cells compensated for this separation delay by increasing the length of both prophase and prometaphase stages to allow for centrosome separation until a minimal distance was reached. Then the cells passed through anaphase, performing proper chromosome separation, but cytokinesis did not occur, and binuclear cells were formed. Our results clearly show that the actin microfilaments participate in centrosome separation at the G2/M transition and work in synergy with the microtubules to accelerate centrosome separation during mitosis.
authors.affiliation: Groupe cycle cellulaire, UMR 6061 génétique et développement, CNRS-Université de Rennes 1, IFR 97 génomique et santé Faculté de médecine, 2, avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, CS 34317, 35043 Rennes cedex, France.
authors.forename: Rustem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uzbekov
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kireyev
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prigent
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000705:Anaphase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018385:Centrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008677:Metaphase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D011418:Prophase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D053778:Thiazolidines; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D013844:Thiazoles; D053778:Thiazolidines; D015739:Nocodazole; C037067:latrunculin A