Reference - PMID:34346498 - Loss of kinesin-8 improves the robustness of the self-assembled spindle in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
Reference summary
- PubMed ID
- PMID:34346498
- Title
- Loss of kinesin-8 improves the robustness of the self-assembled spindle in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
- Authors
- Pineda-Santaella A, Fernández-Castillo N, Jiménez-Martín A, Macías-Cabeza MDC, Sánchez-Gómez Á, Fernández-Álvarez A
- Citation
- J Cell Sci 2021 Aug 15;134(16)
- Publication year
- 2021
- Abstract
- Chromosome segregation in female meiosis in many metazoans is mediated by acentrosomal spindles, the existence of which implies that microtubule spindles self-assemble without the participation of the centrosomes. Although it is thought that acentrosomal meiosis is not conserved in fungi, we recently reported the formation of self-assembled microtubule arrays, which were able to segregate chromosomes, in fission yeast mutants, in which the contribution of the spindle pole body (SPB; the centrosome equivalent in yeast) was specifically blocked during meiosis. Here, we demonstrate that this unexpected microtubule formation represents a bona fide type of acentrosomal spindle. Moreover, a comparative analysis of these self-assembled spindles and the canonical SPB-dependent spindle reveals similarities and differences; for example, both spindles have a similar polarity, but the location of the γ-tubulin complex differs. We also show that the robustness of self-assembled spindles can be reinforced by eliminating kinesin-8 family members, whereas kinesin-8 mutants have an adverse impact on SPB-dependent spindles. Hence, we consider that reinforced self-assembled spindles in yeast will help to clarify the molecular mechanisms behind acentrosomal meiosis, a crucial step towards better understanding gametogenesis.
