title: ERα regulates chromosome alignment and spindle dynamics during mitosis.
abstract: Estrogen receptors are activated by the hormone estrogen and they control cell growth by altering gene expression as a transcription factor. So far two estrogen receptors have been found: ERα and ERβ. Estrogen receptors are also implicated in the development and progression of breast cancer. Here, we found that ERα localized on the spindle and spindle poles at the metaphase during mitosis. Depletion of ERα generated unaligned chromosomes in metaphase cells and lagging chromosomes in anaphase cells in a transcription-independent manner. Furthermore, the levels of β-tubulin and γ-tubulin were reduced in ERα-depleted cells. Consistent with this, polymerization of microtubules in ERα-depleted cells and turnover rate of α/β-tubulin were decreased than in control cells. We suggest that ERα regulates chromosome alignment and spindle dynamics by stabilizing microtubules during mitosis.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Cell Fate Control, College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 140-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Xianghua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hweon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Pai Chai University, Daejeon 302-735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Cell Fate Control, College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 140-742, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: cyjang@sookmyung.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chang-Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D020090:Chromosome Segregation; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008677:Metaphase; D008938:Mitosis; D021381:Protein Transport; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha
keywords: Chromosome movement; ERα; Mitotic spindle; Spindle dynamics