Kinetochores accelerate or delay APC/C activation by directing Cdc20 to opposing fates

Genes Dev. 2017 Jun 1;31(11):1089-1094. doi: 10.1101/gad.302067.117. Epub 2017 Jul 11.

Abstract

Mitotic duration is determined by activation of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) bound to its coactivator, Cdc20. Kinetochores, the microtubule-interacting machines on chromosomes, restrain mitotic exit when not attached to spindle microtubules by generating a Cdc20-containing complex that inhibits the APC/C. Here, we show that flux of Cdc20 through kinetochores also accelerates mitotic exit by promoting its dephosphorylation by kinetochore-localized protein phosphatase 1, which allows Cdc20 to activate the APC/C. Both APC/C activation and inhibition depend on Cdc20 fluxing through the same binding site at kinetochores. The microtubule attachment status of kinetochores therefore optimizes mitotic duration by controlling the balance between opposing Cdc20 fates.

Keywords: APC/C; Cdc20; cell division; kinetochore; protein phosphatase 1; spindle assembly checkpoint.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / enzymology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Cdc20 Proteins / genetics
  • Cdc20 Proteins / metabolism*
  • Kinetochores / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Phosphatase 1 / metabolism
  • Transcriptional Activation*

Substances

  • Cdc20 Proteins
  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
  • Protein Phosphatase 1