NOP53 ribosome biogenesis factor (NOP53) is a nucleolar protein involved in oncogenesis/tumor suppression, cell cycle regulation, and cell death. Here, we investigated the role of NOP53 in the maintenance of normal nuclear shape and chromosomal stability. Depletion of NOP53 by shRNA caused abnormal nuclear morphology, including large nucleus, irregular nucleus, and multinucleated cells, and chromosomal instability resulting in micronucleus or nuclear bud formation. The abnormal nuclear shape and chromosomal instability were restored by re-expression of NOP53. We further showed that NOP53 was involved in chromosome congression in metaphase. Downregulation of NOP53 induced aberrant chromosome congression and spindle checkpoint activation, resulting in delayed mitosis and mitotic arrest. Thus, our findings demonstrated that the nucleolar protein NOP53 participated in mitotic progression and that dysregulated NOP53 expression caused chromosomal instability in cancer cells.
Keywords: Abnormal nucleus; Chromosomal instability; Mitosis; NOP53.