title: The Ste20-like kinase SLK is required for cell cycle progression through G2.
abstract: We have previously shown that the Ste20-like kinase SLK is a microtubule-associated protein that can regulate actin reorganization during cell adhesion and spreading (Wagner, S., Flood, T. A., O'Reilly, P., Hume, K., and Sabourin, L. A. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 37685-37692). Because of its association with the microtubule network, we investigated whether SLK plays a role in cell cycle progression, a process that requires microtubule dynamics during mitosis. Consistent with microtubule association in exponentially growing cells, our results showed that SLK co-localizes with the mitotic spindle in cells undergoing mitosis. Expression of a kinase-inactive mutant or SLK small interfering RNAs inhibited cell proliferation and resulted in an accumulation of quiescent cells stimulated to re-enter the cell cycle in the G2 phase. Cultures expressing the mutant SLK displayed a normal pattern of cyclin D, E, and B expression but failed to down-regulate cyclin A levels, suggesting that they cannot proceed through M phase. In addition, these cultures displayed low levels of both phospho-H3 and active p34/cdc2 kinase. Overexpression of active SLK resulted in ectopic spindle assembly and the induction of cell cycle re-entry of Xenopus oocytes, suggesting that SLK is required for progression through G2 upstream of H1 kinase activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario K1H8M5, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Franks
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cailliau
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Browaeys
authors.forename: Colette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dissous
authors.forename: Luc A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sabourin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000502:physiology; D017931:DNA Primers; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus; D014981:Xenopus; D000099317:Hippo Kinases
chemical_list: D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; D017931:DNA Primers; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C402650:SLK protein, mouse; D000099317:Hippo Kinases