Centromere targeting of the chromosomal passenger complex requires a ternary subcomplex of Borealin, Survivin, and the N-terminal domain of INCENP.
The chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), consisting of the serine/threonine kinase Aurora B, the inner centromere protein INCENP, Survivin, and Borealin/DasraB, has essential functions at the centromere in ensuring correct chromosome alignment and segregation. Despite observations that small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of any one member of the CPC abolishes localization of the other subunits, it remains unclear how the complex is targeted to the centromere. We have now identified a ternary subcomplex of the CPC comprising Survivin, Borealin, and the N-terminal 58 amino acids of INCENP in vitro and in vivo. This subcomplex was found to be essential and sufficient for targeting to the centromere. Notably, Aurora B kinase, the enzymatic core of the CPC, was not required for centromere localization of the subcomplex. We demonstrate that CPC targeting to the centromere does not depend on CENP-A and hMis12, two core components for kinetochore/centromere assembly, and provide evidence that the CPC may be directed to centromeric DNA directly via the Borealin subunit. Our findings thus establish a functional module within the CPC that assembles on the N terminus of INCENP and controls centromere recruitment.
Department of Cell Biology, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
Ulf R
UR
Klein
Erich A
EA
Nigg
Ulrike
U
Gruneberg
D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002503:Centromere / Q000502:physiology*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D000077022:Survivin; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; C490157:CDCA8 protein, human; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; C083767:INCENP protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000077022:Survivin