Centrobin/NIP2 is a microtubule stabilizer whose activity is enhanced by PLK1 phosphorylation during mitosis.
Centrobin/NIP2 is a centrosomal protein that is required for centrosome duplication. It is also critical for microtubule organization in both interphase and mitotic cells. In the present study, we observed that centrobin is phosphorylated in a cell cycle stage-specific manner, reaching its maximum at M phase. PLK1 is a kinase that is responsible for M phase-specific phosphorylation of centrobin. The microtubule forming activity of centrobin was enhanced by PLK1 phosphorylation. Furthermore, mitotic spindles were not assembled properly with the phospho-resistant mutant of centrobin. Based on these results, we propose that centrobin functions as a microtubule stabilizing factor and PLK1 enhances centrobin activity for proper spindle formation during mitosis.
Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea.
Jungmin
J
Lee
Yeontae
Y
Jeong
Saimi
S
Jeong
Kunsoo
K
Rhee
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000097869:Polo-Like Kinase 1
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000097869:Polo-Like Kinase 1; C507203:CNTROB protein, human