Syntaxin 2 and endobrevin are required for the terminal step of cytokinesis in mammalian cells.
The terminal step of cytokinesis in animal cells is the abscission of the midbody, a cytoplasmic bridge that connects the two prospective daughter cells. Here we show that two members of the SNARE membrane fusion machinery, syntaxin 2 and endobrevin/VAMP-8, specifically localize to the midbody during cytokinesis in mammalian cells. Inhibition of their function by overexpression of nonmembrane-anchored mutants causes failure of cytokinesis leading to the formation of binucleated cells. Time-lapse microscopy shows that only midbody abscission but not further upstream events, such as furrowing, are affected. These results indicate that successful completion of cytokinesis requires a SNARE-mediated membrane fusion event and that this requirement is distinct from exocytic events that may be involved in prior ingression of the plasma membrane.
Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Seng Hui
SH
Low
Xin
X
Li
Masumi
M
Miura
Noriko
N
Kudo
Beatriz
B
Quiñones
Thomas
T
Weimbs
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016466:CHO Cells; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D004285:Dogs; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050683:R-SNARE Proteins; D051381:Rats; D050827:Syntaxin 1; D013997:Time Factors
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D050683:R-SNARE Proteins; D050827:Syntaxin 1; C491830:Vamp8 protein, rat