Polo kinase recruitment via the constitutive centromere-associated network at the kinetochore elevates centromeric RNA

PLoS Genet. 2020 Aug 18;16(8):e1008990. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008990. eCollection 2020 Aug.

Abstract

The kinetochore, a multi-protein complex assembled on centromeres, is essential to segregate chromosomes during cell division. Deficiencies in kinetochore function can lead to chromosomal instability and aneuploidy-a hallmark of cancer cells. Kinetochore function is controlled by recruitment of regulatory proteins, many of which have been documented, however their function often remains uncharacterized and many are yet to be identified. To identify candidates of kinetochore regulation we used a proteome-wide protein association strategy in budding yeast and detected many proteins that are involved in post-translational modifications such as kinases, phosphatases and histone modifiers. We focused on the Polo-like kinase, Cdc5, and interrogated which cellular components were sensitive to constitutive Cdc5 localization. The kinetochore is particularly sensitive to constitutive Cdc5 kinase activity. Targeting Cdc5 to different kinetochore subcomplexes produced diverse phenotypes, consistent with multiple distinct functions at the kinetochore. We show that targeting Cdc5 to the inner kinetochore, the constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN), increases the levels of centromeric RNA via an SPT4 dependent mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaphase / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics*
  • Centromere / genetics*
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics
  • Chromosome Segregation / genetics
  • Histones / genetics
  • Humans
  • Kinetochores / metabolism
  • Mitosis / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphorylation / genetics
  • Polo-Like Kinase 1
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • RNA / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics*
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • Histones
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • SPT4 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors
  • RNA
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • CDC5 protein, S cerevisiae