Dynamic Phosphorylation of NudC by Aurora B in Cytokinesis

PLoS One. 2016 Apr 13;11(4):e0153455. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153455. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Nuclear distribution protein C (NudC) is a mitotic regulator that plays a role in cytokinesis. However, how NudC is regulated during cytokinesis remains unclear. Here, we show that NudC is phosphorylated by Aurora B, a kinase critical for cell abscission. NudC is co-localized with Aurora B at the midbody and co-immunoprecipitated with Aurora B in mitosis. Inhibition of Aurora B by ZM447439 reduced NudC phosphorylation, suggesting that NudC is an Aurora B substrate in vivo. We identified T40 on NudC as an Aurora B phosphorylation site. NudC depletion resulted in cytokinesis failure with a dramatic elongation of the intercellular bridge between daughter cells, sustained Aurora B activity at the midbody, and reduced cell abscission. These cytokinetic defects can be rescued by the ectopic expression of wild-type NudC. Reconstitution with T40A phospho-defective NudC was found to rescue the cytokinesis defect. In contrast, reconstitution with the T40D phospho-mimetic NudC was inefficient in supporting the completion of cytokinesis. These results suggest that that dynamic phosphorylation of NudC by Aurora B regulates cytokinesis.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Aurora Kinase B / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cytokinesis / physiology*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mitosis / physiology*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • NUDC protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Aurora Kinase B