Cep57, a NEDD1-binding pericentriolar material component, is essential for spindle pole integrity

Cell Res. 2012 Sep;22(9):1390-401. doi: 10.1038/cr.2012.61. Epub 2012 Apr 17.

Abstract

Formation of a bipolar spindle is indispensable for faithful chromosome segregation and cell division. Spindle integrity is largely dependent on the centrosome and the microtubule network. Centrosome protein Cep57 can bundle microtubules in mammalian cells. Its related protein (Cep57R) in Xenopus was characterized as a stabilization factor for microtubule-kinetochore attachment. Here we show that Cep57 is a pericentriolar material (PCM) component. Its interaction with NEDD1 is necessary for the centrosome localization of Cep57. Depletion of Cep57 leads to unaligned chromosomes and a multipolar spindle, which is induced by PCM fragmentation. In the absence of Cep57, centrosome microtubule array assembly activity is weakened, and the spindle length and microtubule density decrease. As a spindle microtubule-binding protein, Cep57 is also responsible for the proper organization of the spindle microtubule and localization of spindle pole focusing proteins. Collectively, these results suggest that Cep57, as a NEDD1-binding centrosome component, could function as a spindle pole- and microtubule-stabilizing factor for establishing robust spindle architecture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Centrosome / metabolism
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Spindle Apparatus / metabolism*
  • Xenopus / metabolism

Substances

  • CEP57 protein, human
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • NEDD1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering