Microtubule organization: A complex solution

Microtubule nucleation within cells is catalyzed by γ-tubulin ring complexes localized at specific microtubule-organizing centers. In this issue, Muroyama et al. (2016. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201601099) reveal heterogeneity in the composition and function of these complexes, with wide implications for how cells organize their microtubule arrays.P.T. Conduit was funded by a Wellcome Trust/Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellowship (105653/Z/14/Z)

Cross-linking mass spectrometry identifies new interfaces of Augmin required to localise the γ-Tubulin ring complex to the mitotic spindle

The hetero-octameric protein complex, Augmin, recruits γ-Tubulin Ring Complex (γ-TuRC) to pre-existing microtubules (MTs) to generate branched MTs during mitosis, facilitating robust spindle assembly. However, despite a recent partial reconstitution of the human Augmin complex in vitro, the molecular basis of this recruitment remains unclear. Here, we used immuno-affinity purification of in vivo Augmin from Drosophila and cross-linking/mass spectrometry to identify distance restraints between residues within the eight Augmin subunits in the absence of any other structural information. The results allowed us to predict potential interfaces between Augmin and γ-TuRC. We tested these predictions biochemically and in the Drosophila embryo, demonstrating that specific regions of the Augmin subunits, Dgt3, Dgt5 and Dgt6 all directly bind the γ-TuRC protein, Dgp71WD, and are required for the accumulation of γ-TuRC, but not Augmin, to the mitotic spindle. This study therefore substantially increases our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning MT-dependent MT nucleation

Anastral spindle assembly and γ-tubulin in Drosophila oocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Anastral spindles assemble by a mechanism that involves microtubule nucleation and growth from chromatin. It is still uncertain whether γ-tubulin, a microtubule nucleator essential for mitotic spindle assembly and maintenance, plays a role. Not only is the requirement for γ-tubulin to form anastral <it>Drosophila </it>oocyte meiosis I spindles controversial, but its presence in oocyte meiosis I spindles has not been demonstrated and is uncertain.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show, for the first time, using a bright GFP fusion protein and live imaging, that the <it>Drosophila </it>maternally-expressed γTub37C is present at low levels in oocyte meiosis I spindles. Despite this, we find that formation of bipolar meiosis I spindles does not require functional γTub37C, extending previous findings by others. Fluorescence photobleaching assays show rapid recovery of γTub37C in the meiosis I spindle, similar to the cytoplasm, indicating weak binding by γTub37C to spindles, and fits of a new, potentially more accurate model for fluorescence recovery yield kinetic parameters consistent with transient, diffusional binding.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The FRAP results, together with its mutant effects late in meiosis I, indicate that γTub37C may perform a role subsequent to metaphase I, rather than nucleating microtubules for meiosis I spindle formation. Weak binding to the meiosis I spindle could stabilize pre-existing microtubules or position γ-tubulin for function during meiosis II spindle assembly, which follows rapidly upon oocyte activation and completion of the meiosis I division.</p

Activation of the γ-Tubulin Complex by the Mto1/2 Complex

SummaryThe multisubunit γ-tubulin complex (γ-TuC) is critical for microtubule nucleation in eukaryotic cells [1, 2], but it remains unclear how the γ-TuC becomes active specifically at microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs) and not more broadly throughout the cytoplasm [3, 4]. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the proteins Mto1 and Mto2 form the Mto1/2 complex, which interacts with the γ-TuC and recruits it to several different types of cytoplasmic MTOC sites [5–10]. Here, we show that the Mto1/2 complex activates γ-TuC-dependent microtubule nucleation independently of localizing the γ-TuC. This was achieved through the construction of a “minimal” version of Mto1/2, Mto1/2[bonsai], that does not localize to any MTOC sites. By direct imaging of individual Mto1/2[bonsai] complexes nucleating single microtubules in vivo, we further determine the number and stoichiometry of Mto1, Mto2, and γ-TuC subunits Alp4 (GCP2) and Alp6 (GCP3) within active nucleation complexes. These results are consistent with active nucleation complexes containing ∼13 copies each of Mto1 and Mto2 per active complex and likely equimolar amounts of γ-tubulin. Additional experiments suggest that Mto1/2 multimers act to multimerize the fission yeast γ-tubulin small complex and that multimerization of Mto2 in particular may underlie assembly of active microtubule nucleation complexes

The Oncoprotein BCL11A Binds to Orphan Nuclear Receptor TLX and Potentiates its Transrepressive Function

Nuclear orphan receptor TLX (NR2E1) functions primarily as a transcriptional repressor and its pivotal role in brain development, glioblastoma, mental retardation and retinopathologies make it an attractive drug target. TLX is expressed in the neural stem cells (NSCs) of the subventricular zone and the hippocampus subgranular zone, regions with persistent neurogenesis in the adult brain, and functions as an essential regulator of NSCs maintenance and self-renewal. Little is known about the TLX social network of interactors and only few TLX coregulators are described. To identify and characterize novel TLX-binders and possible coregulators, we performed yeast-two-hybrid (Y2H) screens of a human adult brain cDNA library using different TLX constructs as baits. Our screens identified multiple clones of Atrophin-1 (ATN1), a previously described TLX interactor. In addition, we identified an interaction with the oncoprotein and zinc finger transcription factor BCL11A (CTIP1/Evi9), a key player in the hematopoietic system and in major blood-related malignancies. This interaction was validated by expression and coimmunoprecipitation in human cells. BCL11A potentiated the transrepressive function of TLX in an in vitro reporter gene assay. Our work suggests that BCL11A is a novel TLX coregulator that might be involved in TLX-dependent gene regulation in the brain

The Bactofilin Cytoskeleton Protein BacM of Myxococcus xanthus Forms an Extended β-Sheet Structure Likely Mediated by Hydrophobic Interactions

Bactofilins are novel cytoskeleton proteins that are widespread in Gram-negative bacteria. Myxococcus xanthus, an important predatory soil bacterium, possesses four bactofilins of which one, BacM (Mxan_7475) plays an important role in cell shape maintenance. Electron and fluorescence light microscopy, as well as studies using over-expressed, purified BacM, indicate that this protein polymerizes in vivo and in vitro into ~3 nm wide filaments that further associate into higher ordered fibers of about 10 nm. Here we use a multipronged approach combining secondary structure determination, molecular modeling, biochemistry, and genetics to identify and characterize critical molecular elements that enable BacM to polymerize. Our results indicate that the bactofilin-determining domain DUF583 folds into an extended β-sheet structure, and we hypothesize a left-handed β-helix with polymerization into 3 nm filaments primarily via patches of hydrophobic amino acid residues. These patches form the interface allowing head-to-tail polymerization during filament formation. Biochemical analyses of these processes show that folding and polymerization occur across a wide variety of conditions and even in the presence of chaotropic agents such as one molar urea. Together, these data suggest that bactofilins are comprised of a structure unique to cytoskeleton proteins, which enables robust polymerization

Mecanismes de regulació transcripcional del gen que codifica per la "Kidney-Androgen Regulated Protein" (KAP) en relació a la seva especificitat de teixit i control hormonal.

[cat] Entre els gens sotmesos a regulació androgènica al ronyó de ratolí i amb una expressió pràcticament exclsuiva al túbul proximal es troba el de la Kidney Androgen-regulated Protein (KAP). L'mRNA del gen de la KAP és el més abundant del ronyó de ratolí mascle i la hibridació in situ sols es detecta en les cèl·lules epitelials dels túbuls corticals (Meseguer et al., 1987). L'especificitat tan restringida de l'expressió del gen de la KAP així com el dimorfisme sexual que manifesta ha permès distingir dos patrons diferents dins les cèl·lules S1/S2 i S3 que integren el túbul proximal. En les cèl·lules S3 l'expressió de KAP és dependent de l'hormona tiroïdal i en les cèl·lules S1/S2 l'expressió sols present en mascles respon a andrògens i és dependent de la presència puntual de l'hormona tiroïdal durant la maduració gonadal. La mutació de dues putatives seqüències d'unió per a factors C/EBP situades a -429 i -457 del promotor del gen suposa en assajos de transfeccio transitòria en la línia cel·lular PCT3 derivada dels segments S1/S2 amb constructes de 638 pb del promotor, una caiguda de la inducció per andrògens de -40 cops. En aquesta Tesi s'ha comprovat mitjançant assajos EMSA que el receptor d'andrògens (RA) és capaç d'unir l'element de reposta a andrògens (ARE) situat a -39bp de l'inici de transcripció. Assajos de transfecció transitòria han mostrat que la mutació A<G de la primera adenina de la caixa TATA situada a -28 pb solapada parcialment amb l'ARE suposa una caiguda dramàtica en l'activitat del promotor del gen. Mitjançant assajos EMSA hem vist que la unió de RA a l'ARE mutat que incorpora el canvi de nucleòtid en la caixa TATA no es veu afectada per aquest. Hem pogut concloure que el gen de la KAP presenta una caixa TATA funcional necessària per a què es produeixi la inducció per andrògens que té lloc per unió de RA a l'ARE solapat i que el gen no es comporta com un gen TATA-less en els contextos d'inducció androgènica. Hem comprovat que la seqüència GC situada a -100 pb del promotor és un lloc d'unió pel factor Sp1 que és capaç d'induir l'activitat del constructe que incorpora els primers 638 pb del promotor. La caixa GC també és unida pel factor Sp3 que al seu torn no és capaç d'induir l'activitat del promotor i competeix amb Sp1 fent disminuir el seu efecte inductor. Mitjançant assajos de transfecció transitòria s'ha vist que Sp1 sinergitza amb RA en la resposta a andrògens del promotor. S'ha comprovat per assajos EMSA la possible unió dels factors C/EBP a les caixes -429 i -457. Així s'ha vist que que la caixa -457 és unida per C/EBP en cèl·lules PCT3 i pels factors C/EBP i al ronyó de ratolí. La caixa -429 no és unida per cap dels factors C/EBP testats. S'han realitzat cromatografies d'afinitat per la caixa -429 i se n'ha aïllat l' ATP-dependant RNA helicase DDX20, helicasa que s'uneix al factor Steroidogenic Factor 1, possible candidat a regular la KAP. La predicció in silico per a la caixa -429 apunta la possible unió per Receptor de Glucocorticoides (GR) fet que ha permès constatar la col·laboració que en el promotor del gen ocorre entre andrògens, glucocorticoides i Sp1. L'escenari final descrit en aquesta Tesi per a la regulació del gen de la KAP apunta a una resposta androgènica del promotor dependent de la presència simultània de l'ARE, la caixa GC i la caixa -429 suggerint la col·laboracio entre AR, Sp1 i el factor que uneix la caixa -429. La caixa -457 (C/EBP sembla no tenir implicació en aquesta la resposta androgènica.[eng] The Kidney Androgen-regulated Protein (KAP) gene is exclusively expressed in proximal tubules of mouse kidney. It displays a differential regulation of expression by steroid and thyroid hormones (THs) in different proximal tubule segments. Whereas the pars recta (PR cells) responds to thyroid and sexual hormones, the pars convoluta (PCT cells) represents a truly androgen-dependent compartment because expression occurs only in the presence of androgens and functional androgen receptors. Using several genetically deficient mouse models it was determined that thyroid and GH modulate CCAAT/enhancer binding protein and levels that, in turn, control KAP expression in PCT cells in a developmentally dependent manner. In this thesis we demonstrated that C/EBP actually binds to CAAT box located at -457 bp of the KAP promoter meanwhile the putative CAAT situated at -429 bp is not bound by a C/EBP protein. We have proved that AR binds to an Androgen Response Element located at -39 bp that is overlapping with the TATA box of the gene. We saw that the androgenic response of KAP promoter is mediated and increased by Sp1 factor. The GC box, Sp target sequence, is found at -110 bp and we have seen Sp3 is also able to bound it eventhough this factor competes with Sp1 for the binding decreasing the androgen promoted transcription. With the aim of determining which factor is bound to box -429 promoting KAP transcription we performed DNA affinity chromatograpy. With these assays we could isolate ATP-dependant RNA helicase DDX20, an helicase that interacts with Steroidogenic Factor 1 (SF-1) a new candidate for KAP gene regulation. The in silico predictions for box -429 indicated the possible binding of Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR). Eventhough GR is not bound to -429 sequence, we could see a strong collaboration of glucorticoids in the AR-Sp1 response in KAP promoter. The final scenario for KAP regulation we could describe in this Thesis is an androgenic response of the promoter depending on the simultaneous presence of ARE, GC box and box -429 suggesting a collaboration between AR, Sp1 and the transcription factor that is bound to -429 box

The gammaTuRC revisited: A comparative analysis of interphase and mitotic human gammaTuRC redefines the set of core components and identifies the novel subunit GCP8

The γ-tubulin complex is a multi-subunit protein complex that nucleates microtubule polymerization. γ-Tubulin complexes are present in all eukaryotes, but size and subunit composition vary. In Drosophila, Xenopus, and humans large γ-tubulin ring complexes (γTuRCs) have been described, which have a characteristic open ring-shaped structure and are composed of a similar set of subunits, named γ-tubulin, GCPs 2-6, and GCP-WD in humans. Despite the identification of these proteins, γTuRC function and regulation remain poorly understood. Here we establish a new method for the purification of native human γTuRC. Using mass spectrometry of whole protein mixtures we compared the composition of γTuRCs from nonsynchronized and mitotic human cells. Based on our analysis we can define core subunits as well as more transient interactors such as the augmin complex, which associates specifically with mitotic γTuRCs. We also identified GCP8/MOZART2 as a novel core subunit that is present in both interphase and mitotic γTuRCs. GCP8 depletion does not affect γTuRC assembly but interferes with γTuRC recruitment and microtubule nucleation at interphase centrosomes without disrupting general centrosome structure. GCP8-depleted cells do not display any obvious mitotic defects, suggesting that GCP8 specifically affects the organization of the interphase microtubule network