A functional analysis of MELK in cell division reveals a transition in the mode of cytokinesis during Xenopus development.
J Cell Sci
; 124(Pt 6): 958-68, 2011 Mar 15.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21378312
ABSTRACT
MELK is a serine/threonine kinase involved in several cell processes, including the cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis and mRNA processing. However, its function remains elusive. Here, we explored its role in the Xenopus early embryo and show by knockdown that xMELK (Xenopus MELK) is necessary for completion of cell division. Consistent with a role in cell division, endogenous xMELK accumulates at the equatorial cortex of anaphase blastomeres. Its relocalization is highly dynamic and correlates with a conformational rearrangement in xMELK. Overexpression of xMELK leads to failure of cytokinesis and impairs accumulation at the division furrow of activated RhoA - a pivotal regulator of cytokinesis. Furthermore, endogenous xMELK associates and colocalizes with the cytokinesis organizer anillin. Unexpectedly, our study reveals a transition in the mode of cytokinesis correlated to cell size and that implicates xMELK. Collectively, our findings disclose the importance of xMELK in cytokinesis during early development and show that the mechanism of cytokinesis changes during Xenopus early development.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Xenopus
/
Divisão Celular
/
Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases
/
Proteínas de Xenopus
/
Citocinese
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Cell Sci
Ano de publicação:
2011
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
França