The fission yeast MO25 protein functions in polar growth and cell separation

Eur J Cell Biol. 2005 Dec;84(12):915-26. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2005.09.013. Epub 2005 Oct 3.

Abstract

Proteins of the MO25 family are widely conserved but their function has not been characterized in detail. Human MO25 is a cofactor of LKB1, a conserved protein kinase with roles in cell polarity in nematodes, flies and mammalian cells. Furthermore, the budding yeast MO25 homologue, Hym1, is important for cell separation and morphogenesis. We have characterized Pmo25p, the MO25 homologue in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Pmo25p is an essential protein required for polar growth; in its absence the actin cytoskeleton becomes depolarized and cells adopt a round morphology. In addition, pmo25 mutants are defective in cell separation. Both functions of Pmo25p appear to be mediated by the Orb6p-Mob2p kinase complex. Pmo25p shows no distinct localization during interphase, but it is recruited to one of the two spindle pole bodies during anaphase and to the division site during cytokinesis. The septation initiation network (SIN) regulates the localization of Pmo25p, suggesting that it regulates Pmo25p function during cell division.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaphase / physiology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Division / physiology*
  • Cell Polarity
  • Cytokinesis / physiology
  • Cytoskeleton / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Genes, Fungal
  • Genes, cdc / physiology
  • Interphase / physiology
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Movement
  • Mutation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology
  • Schizosaccharomyces / cytology*
  • Schizosaccharomyces / physiology
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / physiology*
  • Spindle Apparatus / metabolism

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Pmo25 protein, S pombe
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
  • Orb6 protein, S pombe
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases