Protein phosphatases in the regulation of mitosis

J Cell Biol. 2019 Feb 4;218(2):395-409. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201809138. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Abstract

The accurate segregation of genetic material to daughter cells during mitosis depends on the precise coordination and regulation of hundreds of proteins by dynamic phosphorylation. Mitotic kinases are major regulators of protein function, but equally important are protein phosphatases that balance their actions, their coordinated activity being essential for accurate chromosome segregation. Phosphoprotein phosphatases (PPPs) that dephosphorylate phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues are increasingly understood as essential regulators of mitosis. In contrast to kinases, the lack of a pronounced peptide-binding cleft on the catalytic subunit of PPPs suggests that these enzymes are unlikely to be specific. However, recent exciting insights into how mitotic PPPs recognize specific substrates have revealed that they are as specific as kinases. Furthermore, the activities of PPPs are tightly controlled at many levels to ensure that they are active only at the proper time and place. Here, I will discuss substrate selection and regulation of mitotic PPPs focusing mainly on animal cells and explore how these actions control mitosis, as well as important unanswered questions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chromosome Segregation / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Mitosis / physiology*
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / genetics
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation / physiology

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases