title: The molecular function of Ase1p: evidence for a MAP-dependent midzone-specific spindle matrix. Microtubule-associated proteins.
abstract: The midzone is the domain of the mitotic spindle that maintains spindle bipolarity during anaphase and generates forces required for spindle elongation (anaphase B). Although there is a clear role for microtubule (MT) motor proteins at the spindle midzone, less is known about how microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) contribute to midzone organization and function. Here, we report that budding yeast Ase1p is a member of a conserved family of midzone-specific MAPs. By size exclusion chromatography and velocity sedimentation, both Ase1p in extracts and purified Ase1p behaved as a homodimer. Ase1p bound and bundled MTs in vitro. By live cell microscopy, loss of Ase1p resulted in a specific defect: premature spindle disassembly in mid-anaphase. Furthermore, when overexpressed, Ase1p was sufficient to trigger spindle elongation in S phase-arrested cells. FRAP revealed that Ase1p has both a very slow rate of turnover within the midzone and limited lateral diffusion along spindle MTs. We propose that Ase1p functions as an MT cross-bridge that imparts matrix-like characteristics to the midzone. MT-dependent networks of spindle midzone MAPs may be one molecular basis for the postulated spindle matrix.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Schuyler
authors.forename: Jenny Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pellman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D019281:Dimerization; D036681:Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching; D006801:Humans; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D005810:Multigene Family; D010802:Phylogeny; D011485:Protein Binding; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C472767:Ase1 protein, S cerevisiae; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins