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Essential roles of KIF4 and its binding partner PRC1 in organized central spindle midzone formation
Author(s) -
Kurasawa Yasuhiro,
Earnshaw William C,
Mochizuki Yuko,
Dohmae Naoshi,
Todokoro Kazuo
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600347
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , biology , anaphase , spindle apparatus , cell division , cell , genetics , cell cycle
A number of proteins accumulate in the anaphase spindle midzone, but the interaction and precise role of these proteins in midzone organization remain obscure. Here, we found that the microtubule‐bundling protein PRC1 bound separately to the three motor proteins, KIF4, MKLP1 and CENP‐E, but not to the chromosomal passenger proteins. In KIF4‐deficient cells, the central spindle was disorganized, and all midzone‐associated proteins including PRC1 failed to concentrate at the midline, instead being dispersed along the loosened microtubule bundles of the central spindle. This suggests that KIF4 is essential for the organization of central spindles and for midzone formation. In PRC1‐deficient cells, no midzone was formed, KIF4 and CENP‐E did not localize to the disconnected half‐spindle, and MKLP1 and chromosomal passenger proteins localized to discrete subdomains near microtubule plus ends in the half‐spindle. Thus, PRC1 is required for interaction of the two half‐spindles and for localization of KIF4 and CENP‐E. These results suggest that KIF4 and its binding partner PRC1 play essential roles in the organization of central spindles and midzone formation.