Abstract
Precise segregation of chromosomes requires the activity of a specialized chromatin region, the centromere, that assembles the kinetochore complex to mediate the association with spindle microtubules. We show here that Mal2p, previously identified as a protein required for genome stability, is an essential component of the fission yeast centromere. Loss of functional Mal2p leads to extreme missegregation of chromosomes due to nondisjunction of sister chromatids and results in inviable cells. Mal2p associates specifically with the central region of the complex fission yeast centromere, where it is required for the specialized chromatin architecture as well as for transcriptional silencing of this region. Genetic evidence indicates that mal2(+) interacts with mis12(+), encoding another component of the inner centromere core complex. In addition, Mal2p is required for correct metaphase spindle length. Our data imply that the Mal2p protein is required to build up a functional fission yeast centromere.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
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Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Carrier Proteins*
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Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
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Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
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Centromere / metabolism*
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Centromere / physiology
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Chromatids
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Chromatin
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Chromosome Segregation
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Chromosomes, Fungal / metabolism*
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Chromosomes, Fungal / physiology
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Fungal Proteins / genetics
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Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
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Fungal Proteins / physiology
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Ligases
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Mad2 Proteins
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Metaphase
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
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Nondisjunction, Genetic
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
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Nuclear Proteins / physiology
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Schizosaccharomyces / genetics
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Schizosaccharomyces / metabolism
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Schizosaccharomyces / physiology
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Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins*
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes*
Substances
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Calcium-Binding Proteins
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Carrier Proteins
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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Chromatin
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Fungal Proteins
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Mad2 Proteins
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Mal2 protein, S pombe
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Mal3 protein, S pombe
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
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alp14 protein, S pombe
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dis1 protein, S pombe
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mad2 protein, S pombe
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mis12 protein, S pombe
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes
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Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
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Ligases