title: Centrosome maturation and duplication in C. elegans require the coiled-coil protein SPD-2.
abstract: Centrosomes are major determinants of mitotic spindle structure, but the mechanisms regulating their behavior remain poorly understood. The spd-2 gene of C. elegans is required for centrosome assembly or "maturation." Here we show that spd-2 encodes a coiled-coil protein that localizes within pericentriolar material (PCM) and in the immediate vicinity of centrioles. During maturation, SPD-2 gradually accumulates at the centrosome in a manner that is partially dependent on Aurora-A kinase and cytoplasmic dynein. Interestingly, SPD-2 interacts genetically with dynein heavy chain and SPD-5, another coiled-coil protein required for centrosome maturation. SPD-2 and SPD-5 are codependent for localization to the PCM, but SPD-2 localizes to centrioles independently of SPD-5. Surprisingly, we also find that SPD-2 is required for centrosome duplication and genetically interacts with ZYG-1, a kinase required for duplication. Thus, we have identified SPD-2 as a factor critical for the two basic functions of the centrosome-microtubule organization and duplication.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kopish
authors.forename: Peder
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zipperlen
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahringer
authors.forename: Kevin F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: O'Connell
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D001483:Base Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002502:Centrioles / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018385:Centrosome / Q000378:metabolism*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004398:Dyneins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022101:Microtubule-Organizing Center / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C486131:SPD-2 protein, C elegans; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; C429649:zyg-1 protein, C elegans; C112134:AURKA protein, Xenopus; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D004398:Dyneins