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XB-ART-9265
J Cell Biol 2001 Apr 02;1531:149-58. doi: 10.1083/jcb.153.1.149.
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Regulation of Op18 during spindle assembly in Xenopus egg extracts.

Budde PP , Kumagai A , Dunphy WG , Heald R .


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Oncoprotein 18 (Op18) is a microtubule-destabilizing protein that is negatively regulated by phosphorylation. To evaluate the role of the three Op18 phosphorylation sites in Xenopus (Ser 16, 25, and 39), we added wild-type Op18, a nonphosphorylatable triple Ser to Ala mutant (Op18-AAA), and to mimic phosphorylation, a triple Ser to Glu mutant (Op18-EEE) to egg extracts and monitored spindle assembly. Op18-AAA dramatically decreased microtubule length and density, while Op18-EEE did not significantly affect spindle microtubules. Affinity chromatography with these proteins revealed that the microtubule-destabilizing activity correlated with the ability of Op18 to bind tubulin. Since hyperphosphorylation of Op18 is observed upon addition of mitotic chromatin to extracts, we reasoned that chromatin-associated proteins might play a role in Op18 regulation. We have performed a preliminary characterization of the chromatin proteins recruited to DNA beads, and identified the Xenopus polo-like kinase Plx1 as a chromatin-associated kinase that regulates Op18 phosphorylation. Depletion of Plx1 inhibits chromatin-induced Op18 hyperphosphorylation and spindle assembly in extracts. Therefore, Plx1 may promote microtubule stabilization and spindle assembly by inhibiting Op18.

???displayArticle.pubmedLink??? 11285281
???displayArticle.pmcLink??? PMC2185528
???displayArticle.link??? J Cell Biol


Species referenced: Xenopus
Genes referenced: cdk1 kif4a mapk1 nat14 plk1 stmn1


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References [+] :
Andersen, Spindle assembly and the art of regulating microtubule dynamics by MAPs and Stathmin/Op18. 2000, Pubmed