Fission yeast Mto1 regulates diversity of cytoplasmic microtubule organizing centers.
Microtubule nucleation by the γ-tubulin complex occurs primarily at centrosomes, but more diverse types of microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) also exist, especially in differentiated cells. Mechanisms generating MTOC diversity are poorly understood. Fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has multiple types of cytoplasmic MTOCs, and these vary through the cell cycle. Cytoplasmic microtubule nucleation in fission yeast depends on a complex of proteins Mto1 and Mto2 (Mto1/2), which localizes to MTOCs and interacts with the γ-tubulin complex. Localization of Mto1 to prospective MTOC sites has been proposed as a key step in γ-tubulin complex recruitment and MTOC formation, but how Mto1 localizes to such sites has not been investigated. Here we identify a short conserved C-terminal sequence in Mto1, termed MASC, important for targeting Mto1 to multiple distinct MTOCs. Different subregions of MASC target Mto1 to different MTOCs, and multimerization of MASC is important for efficient targeting. Mto1 targeting to the cell equator during division depends on direct interaction with unconventional type II myosin Myp2. Targeting to the spindle pole body during mitosis depends on Sid4 and Cdc11, components of the septation initiation network (SIN), but not on other SIN components.
Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Swann Building, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK.
Itaru
I
Samejima
Victoria J
VJ
Miller
Sergio A
SA
Rincon
Kenneth E
KE
Sawin
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D022101:Microtubule-Organizing Center / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D021381:Protein Transport; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism
C477369:CDC11 protein, S pombe; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; C538717:Mto1 protein, S pombe; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; C409024:Sid4 protein, S pombe