SUMO-2/3 regulates topoisomerase II in mitosis

We have analyzed the abundance of SUMO-conjugated species during the cell cycle in Xenopus egg extracts. The predominant SUMO conjugation products associated with mitotic chromosomes arose from SUMO conjugation of topoisomerase II. Topoisomerase II was modified exclusively by SUMO-2/3 during mitosis under normal circumstances, although we observed conjugation of topoisomerase II to SUMO-1 in extracts with exogenous SUMO-1 protein. Inhibition of SUMO modification by a dominant-negative mutant of the SUMO-conjugating enzyme Ubc9 (dnUbc9) did not detectably alter topoisomerase II activity, but it did increase the amount of unmodified topoisomerase II retained on mitotic chromosomes after high salt washing. dnUbc9 did not disrupt the assembly of condensed mitotic chromosomes or block progression of extracts through mitosis, but it did block the dissociation of sister chromatids at the metaphase–anaphase transition. Together, our results suggest that SUMO conjugation is important for chromosome segregation in metazoan systems, and that mobilization of topoisomerase II from mitotic chromatin may be a key target of this modification

Bub1 is essential for assembly of the functional inner centromere

During mitosis, the inner centromeric region (ICR) recruits protein complexes that regulate sister chromatid cohesion, monitor tension, and modulate microtubule attachment. Biochemical pathways that govern formation of the inner centromere remain elusive. The kinetochore protein Bub1 was shown to promote assembly of the outer kinetochore components, such as BubR1 and CENP-F, on centromeres. Bub1 was also implicated in targeting of Shugoshin (Sgo) to the ICR. We show that Bub1 works as a master organizer of the ICR. Depletion of Bub1 from Xenopus laevis egg extract or from HeLa cells resulted in both destabilization and displacement of chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) from the ICR. Moreover, soluble Bub1 controls the binding of Sgo to chromatin, whereas the CPC restricts loading of Sgo specifically onto centromeres. We further provide evidence that Bub1 kinase activity is pivotal for recruitment of all of these components. Together, our findings demonstrate that Bub1 acts at multiple points to assure the correct kinetochore formation

SUMOylation of Psmd1 Controls Adrm1 Interaction with the Proteasome

SummarySUMOylation is the covalent conjugation of SUMO polypeptides to cellular target proteins. Psmd1 is a subunit of the proteasomal 19S regulatory particle that acts as a docking site for Adrm1, another proteasome subunit that recruits ubiquitinated substrates for proteolysis. Here, we show that the SUMO deconjugating enzyme xSENP1 specifically interacts with Psmd1 and that disruption of xSENP1 targeting delays mitotic exit. Psmd1 becomes SUMOylated through the action of the SUMO E3 enzyme PIASy. We mapped SUMOylation sites within Psmd1 and found that SUMOylation of a critical lysine immediately adjacent to the Adrm1-binding domain regulates the association of Adrm1 with Psmd1. Together, our findings suggest that the interaction of Psmd1 with Adrm1 is controlled by SUMOylation in a manner that may alter proteasome composition and function. These findings demonstrate a mechanism for regulation of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation by ubiquitin-like proteins of the SUMO family

PICH regulates the abundance and localization of SUMOylated proteins on mitotic chromosomes

Proper chromosome segregation is essential for faithful cell division and if not maintained results in defective cell function caused by the abnormal distribution of genetic information. Polo-like kinase 1–interacting checkpoint helicase (PICH) is a DNA translocase essential for chromosome bridge resolution during mitosis. Its function in resolving chromosome bridges requires both DNA translocase activity and ability to bind chromosomal proteins modified by the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO). However, it is unclear how these activities cooperate to resolve chromosome bridges. Here, we show that PICH specifically disperses SUMO2/3 foci on mitotic chromosomes. This PICH function is apparent toward SUMOylated topoisomerase IIα (TopoIIα) after inhibition of TopoIIα by ICRF-193. Conditional depletion of PICH using the auxin-inducible degron (AID) system resulted in the retention of SUMO2/3-modified chromosomal proteins, including TopoIIα, indicating that PICH functions to reduce the association of these proteins with chromosomes. Replacement of PICH with its translocase-deficient mutants led to increased SUMO2/3 foci on chromosomes, suggesting that the reduction of SUMO2/3 foci requires the remodeling activity of PICH. In vitro assays showed that PICH specifically attenuates SUMOylated TopoIIα activity using its SUMO-binding ability. Taking the results together, we propose a novel function of PICH in remodeling SUMOylated proteins to ensure faithful chromosome segregation

Subgroup II PAK-mediated phosphorylation regulates Ran activity during mitosis

Phosphorylation of the Ran GTPase on Serine-135 by PAK4 changes Ran’s association with its regulatory proteins and its ability to induce microtubule asters

Human condensin function is essential for centromeric chromatin assembly and proper sister kinetochore orientation.

Condensins I and II in vertebrates are essential ATP-dependent complexes necessary for chromosome condensation in mitosis. Condensins depletion is known to perturb structure and function of centromeres, however the mechanism of this functional link remains elusive. Depletion of condensin activity is now shown to result in a significant loss of loading of CENP-A, the histone H3 variant found at active centromeres and the proposed epigenetic mark of centromere identity. Absence of condensins and/or CENP-A insufficiency produced a specific kinetochore defect, such that a functional mitotic checkpoint cannot prevent chromosome missegregation resulting from improper attachment of sister kinetochores to spindle microtubules. Spindle microtubule-dependent deformation of both inner kinetochores and the HEC1/Ndc80 microtubule-capturing module, then results in kinetochore separation from the Aurora B pool and ensuing reduced kinase activity at centromeres. Moreover, recovery from mitosis-inhibition by monastrol revealed a high incidence of merotelic attachment that was nearly identical with condensin depletion, Aurora B inactivation, or both, indicating that the Aurora B dysfunction is the key defect leading to chromosome missegregation in condensin-depleted cells. Thus, beyond a requirement for global chromosome condensation, condensins play a pivotal role in centromere assembly, proper spatial positioning of microtubule-capturing modules and positioning complexes of the inner centromere versus kinetochore plates

Xenopus HJURP and condensin II are required for CENP-A assembly

Chromatin structure imposed by condensin II at centromeres enables xHJURP-mediated incorporation of CENP-A

Ran-dependent docking of importin-β to RanBP2/Nup358 filaments is essential for protein import and cell viability

RanBP2 captures RanGTP–importin-β complexes at cytoplasmic fibrils to ensure adequate classical NLS–mediated protein import and cell viability

A role for transportin in deposition of TTP to cytoplasmic RNA granules and mRNA decay

Importin-β family members, which shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, are essential for nucleocytoplasmic transport of macromolecules. We attempted to explore whether importin-β family proteins change their cellular localization in response to environmental change. In this report, we show that transportin (TRN) was minimally detected in cytoplasmic processing bodies (P-bodies) under normal cell conditions but largely translocated to stress granules (SGs) in stressed cells. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis indicated that TRN moves rapidly in and out of cytoplasmic granules. Depletion of TRN greatly enhanced P-body formation but did not affect the number or size of SGs, suggesting that TRN or its cargo(es) participates in cellular function of P-bodies. Accordingly, TRN associated with tristetraprolin (TTP) and its AU-rich element (ARE)-containing mRNA substrates. Depletion of TRN increased the number of P-bodies and stabilized ARE-containing mRNAs, as observed with knockdown of the 5′–3′ exonuclease Xrn1. Moreover, depletion of TRN retained TTP in P-bodies and meanwhile reduced the fraction of mobile TTP to SGs. Therefore, our data together suggest that TRN plays a role in trafficking of TTP between the cytoplasmic granules and whereby modulates the stability of ARE-containing mRNAs