Individual pericentromeres display coordinated motion and stretching in the yeast spindle

J Cell Biol. 2013 Nov 11;203(3):407-16. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201307104. Epub 2013 Nov 4.

Abstract

The mitotic segregation apparatus composed of microtubules and chromatin functions to faithfully partition a duplicated genome into two daughter cells. Microtubules exert extensional pulling force on sister chromatids toward opposite poles, whereas pericentric chromatin resists with contractile springlike properties. Tension generated from these opposing forces silences the spindle checkpoint to ensure accurate chromosome segregation. It is unknown how the cell senses tension across multiple microtubule attachment sites, considering the stochastic dynamics of microtubule growth and shortening. In budding yeast, there is one microtubule attachment site per chromosome. By labeling several chromosomes, we find that pericentromeres display coordinated motion and stretching in metaphase. The pericentromeres of different chromosomes exhibit physical linkage dependent on centromere function and structural maintenance of chromosomes complexes. Coordinated motion is dependent on condensin and the kinesin motor Cin8, whereas coordinated stretching is dependent on pericentric cohesin and Cin8. Linking of pericentric chromatin through cohesin, condensin, and kinetochore microtubules functions to coordinate dynamics across multiple attachment sites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Centromere / metabolism*
  • Chromatids
  • Chromatin
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism
  • Chromosome Segregation / genetics*
  • Cohesins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Kinesins / metabolism
  • Kinetochores
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Mitosis / genetics
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Spindle Apparatus / metabolism*
  • Stress, Physiological

Substances

  • CIN8 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Chromatin
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • condensin complexes
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • Kinesins