Death receptor-induced apoptosis reveals a novel interplay between the chromosomal passenger complex and CENP-C during interphase.

Despite the fact that the chromosomal passenger complex is well known to regulate kinetochore behavior in mitosis, no functional link has yet been established between the complex and kinetochore structure. In addition, remarkably little is known about how the complex targets to centromeres. Here, in a study of caspase-8 activation during death receptor-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, we have found that cleaved caspase-8 rapidly translocates to the nucleus and that this translocation is correlated with loss of the centromere protein (CENP)-C, resulting in extensive disruption of centromeres. Caspase-8 activates cytoplasmic caspase-7, which is likely to be the primary caspase responsible for cleavage of CENP-C and INCENP, a key chromosomal passenger protein. Caspase-mediated cleavage of CENP-C and INCENP results in their mislocalization and the subsequent mislocalization of Aurora B kinase. Our results demonstrate that the chromosomal passenger complex is displaced from centromeres as a result of caspase activation. Furthermore, mutation of the primary caspase cleavage sites of INCENP and CENP-C and expression of noncleavable CENP-C or INCENP prevent the mislocalization of the passenger complex after caspase activation. Our studies provide the first evidence for a functional interplay between the passenger complex and CENP-C.

Dynamic recruitment of Nek2 kinase to the centrosome involves microtubules, PCM-1, and localized proteasomal degradation.

Centrosomes undergo dramatic changes in composition and activity during cell cycle progression. Yet mechanisms involved in recruiting centrosomal proteins are poorly understood. Nek2 is a cell cycle-regulated protein kinase required for regulation of centrosome structure at the G2/M transition. Here, we have addressed the processes involved in trafficking of Nek2 to the centrosome of human adult cells. We find that Nek2 exists in small, highly dynamic cytoplasmic particles that move to and from the centrosome. Many of these particles align along microtubules and a motif was identified in the Nek2 C-terminal noncatalytic domain that allows both microtubule binding and centrosome localization. FRAP experiments reveal that 70% of centrosomal Nek2 is rapidly turned over (t(1/2) approximately 3 s). Microtubules facilitate Nek2 trafficking to the centrosome but only over long distances. Cytoplasmic Nek2 particles colocalize in part with PCM-1 containing centriolar satellites and depletion of PCM-1 interferes with centrosomal recruitment of Nek2 and its substrate C-Nap1. Finally, we show that proteasomal degradation is necessary to allow rapid recruitment of new Nek2 molecules to the centrosome. Together, these data highlight multiple processes involved in regulating the abundance of Nek2 kinase at the centrosome including microtubule binding, the centriolar satellite component PCM-1, and localized protein degradation.

The centrosomal kinase Nek2 displays elevated levels of protein expression in human breast cancer.

Aneuploidy and chromosome instability are common abnormalities in human cancer. Loss of control over mitotic progression, multipolar spindle formation, and cytokinesis defects are all likely to contribute to these phenotypes. Nek2 is a cell cycle-regulated protein kinase with maximal activity at the onset of mitosis that localizes to the centrosome. Functional studies have implicated Nek2 in regulation of centrosome separation and spindle formation. Here, we present the first study of the protein expression levels of the Nek2 kinase in human cancer cell lines and primary tumors. Nek2 protein is elevated 2- to 5-fold in cell lines derived from a range of human tumors including those of cervical, ovarian, breast, prostate, and leukemic origin. Most importantly, by immunohistochemistry, we find that Nek2 protein is significantly up-regulated in preinvasive in situ ductal carcinomas of the breast as well as in invasive breast carcinomas. Finally, by ectopic expression of Nek2A in immortalized HBL100 breast epithelial cells, we show that increased Nek2 protein leads to accumulation of multinucleated cells with supernumerary centrosomes. These data highlight the Nek2 kinase as novel potential target for chemotherapeutic intervention in breast cancer.

Nek2A kinase stimulates centrosome disjunction and is required for formation of bipolar mitotic spindles.

Nek2A is a cell cycle-regulated kinase of the never in mitosis A (NIMA) family that is highly enriched at the centrosome. One model for Nek2A function proposes that it regulates cohesion between the mother and daughter centriole through phosphorylation of C-Nap1, a large coiled-coil protein that localizes to centriolar ends. Phosphorylation of C-Nap1 at the G2/M transition may trigger its displacement from centrioles, promoting their separation and subsequent bipolar spindle formation. To test this model, we generated tetracycline-inducible cell lines overexpressing wild-type and kinase-dead versions of Nek2A. Live cell imaging revealed that active Nek2A stimulates the sustained splitting of interphase centrioles indicative of loss of cohesion. However, this splitting is accompanied by only a partial reduction in centriolar C-Nap1. Strikingly, induction of kinase-dead Nek2A led to formation of monopolar spindles with unseparated spindle poles that lack C-Nap1. Furthermore, kinase-dead Nek2A interfered with chromosome segregation and cytokinesis and led to an overall change in the DNA content of the cell population. These results provide the first direct evidence in human cells that Nek2A function is required for the correct execution of mitosis, most likely through promotion of centrosome disjunction. However, they suggest that loss of centriole cohesion and C-Nap1 displacement may be distinct mitotic events.