Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF, 1124K) PPT slides of all figures Alert me when this article is cited Citation Map Services Email this article Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new content in the JCB Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Raemaekers, T. Articles by Carmeliet, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Raemaekers, T. Articles by Carmeliet, G. Related Collections Related Article Social Bookmarking                            What's this?

© The Rockefeller University Press, 0021-9525/2003/9/1017 $5.00
The Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 162, Number 6, 1017-1029

NuSAP, a novel microtubule-associated protein involved in mitotic spindle organization

¹ Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology, Center for Human Genetics/VIB04, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
² Neuronal Membrane Trafficking Laboratory, Center for Human Genetics/VIB04, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
³ Gene Expression and Cell Biology/Biophysics Programs, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany

Address correspondence to Geert Carmeliet, Legendo, Onderwijs & Navorsing, Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Tel.: 32-16-345974. Fax: 32-16-345934. email: geert.carmeliet{at}med.kuleuven.ac.be

Here, we report on the identification of nucleolar spindle–associated protein (NuSAP), a novel 55-kD vertebrate protein with selective expression in proliferating cells. Its mRNA and protein levels peak at the transition of G2 to mitosis and abruptly decline after cell division. Microscopic analysis of both fixed and live mammalian cells showed that NuSAP is primarily nucleolar in interphase, and localizes prominently to central spindle microtubules during mitosis. Direct interaction of NuSAP with microtubules was demonstrated in vitro. Overexpression of NuSAP caused profound bundling of cytoplasmic microtubules in interphase cells, and this relied on a COOH-terminal microtubule-binding domain. In contrast, depletion of NuSAP by RNA interference resulted in aberrant mitotic spindles, defective chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis. In addition, many NuSAP-depleted interphase cells had deformed nuclei. Both overexpression and knockdown of NuSAP impaired cell proliferation. These results suggest a crucial role for NuSAP in spindle microtubule organization.

Key Words: mitotic spindle apparatus; microtubules; nucleus; mitosis; nucleolus

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

Related Article

When nuclear proteins go mitotic

Nicole LeBrasseur
J. Cell Biol. 2003 162: 958-959. [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Hussain, S., Benavente, S. B., Nascimento, E., Dragoni, I., Kurowski, A., Gillich, A., Humphreys, P., Frye, M. (2009). The nucleolar RNA methyltransferase Misu (NSun2) is required for mitotic spindle stability. JCB 186: 27-40 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hong, K. U., Kim, H.-J., Kim, H.-S., Seong, Y.-S., Hong, K.-M., Bae, C.-D., Park, J. (2009). Cdk1-Cyclin B1-mediated Phosphorylation of Tumor-associated Microtubule-associated Protein/Cytoskeleton-associated Protein 2 in Mitosis. J. Biol. Chem. 284: 16501-16512 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kleinschmidt, M. A., Wagner, T. U., Liedtke, D., Spahr, S., Samans, B., Gaubatz, S. (2009). lin9 Is Required for Mitosis and Cell Survival during Early Zebrafish Development. J. Biol. Chem. 284: 13119-13127 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Fant, X., Gnadt, N., Haren, L., Merdes, A. (2009). Stability of the small {gamma}-tubulin complex requires HCA66, a protein of the centrosome and the nucleolus. J. Cell Sci. 122: 1134-1144 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hamada, T., Igarashi, H., Taguchi, R., Fujiwara, M., Fukao, Y., Shimmen, T., Yokota, E., Sonobe, S. (2009). The Putative RNA-Processing Protein, THO2, is a Microtubule-Associated Protein in Tobacco. Plant Cell Physiol 50: 801-811 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wu, G., Lin, Y.-T., Wei, R., Chen, Y., Shan, Z., Lee, W.-H. (2008). Hice1, a Novel Microtubule-Associated Protein Required for Maintenance of Spindle Integrity and Chromosomal Stability in Human Cells. Mol. Cell. Biol. 28: 3652-3662 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hong, K. U., Park, Y. S., Seong, Y.-S., Kang, D., Bae, C.-D., Park, J. (2007). Functional Importance of the Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cdh1-Mediated Degradation of TMAP/CKAP2 in Regulation of Spindle Function and Cytokinesis. Mol. Cell. Biol. 27: 3667-3681 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Boucher, N., Dacheux, D., Giroud, C., Baltz, T. (2007). An Essential Cell Cycle-regulated Nucleolar Protein Relocates to the Mitotic Spindle Where It Is Involved in Mitotic Progression in Trypanosoma brucei. J. Biol. Chem. 282: 13780-13790 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Dessie, S.-W., Rings, F., Holker, M., Gilles, M., Jennen, D., Tholen, E., Havlicek, V., Besenfelder, U., Sukhorukov, V. L, Zimmermann, U., Endter, J. M, Sirard, M.-A., Schellander, K., Tesfaye, D. (2007). Dielectrophoretic behavior of in vitro-derived bovine metaphase II oocytes and zygotes and its relation to in vitro embryonic developmental competence and mRNA expression pattern. Reproduction 133: 931-946 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kirschner-Schwabe, R., Lottaz, C., Todling, J., Rhein, P., Karawajew, L., Eckert, C., von Stackelberg, A., Ungethum, U., Kostka, D., Kulozik, A. E., Ludwig, W.-D., Henze, G., Spang, R., Hagemeier, C., Seeger, K. (2006). Expression of Late Cell Cycle Genes and an Increased Proliferative Capacity Characterize Very Early Relapse of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Clin. Cancer Res. 12: 4553-4561 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ribbeck, K., Groen, A. C., Santarella, R., Bohnsack, M. T., Raemaekers, T., Kocher, T., Gentzel, M., Gorlich, D., Wilm, M., Carmeliet, G., Mitchison, T. J., Ellenberg, J., Hoenger, A., Mattaj, I. W. (2006). NuSAP, a Mitotic RanGTP Target That Stabilizes and Cross-links Microtubules. Mol. Biol. Cell 17: 2646-2660 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Cho, H. P., Liu, Y., Gomez, M., Dunlap, J., Tyers, M., Wang, Y. (2005). The Dual-Specificity Phosphatase CDC14B Bundles and Stabilizes Microtubules. Mol. Cell. Biol. 25: 4541-4551 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• O'Brien, L. L., Albee, A. J., Liu, L., Tao, W., Dobrzyn, P., Lizarraga, S. B., Wiese, C. (2005). The Xenopus TACC Homologue, Maskin, Functions in Mitotic Spindle Assembly. Mol. Biol. Cell 16: 2836-2847 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Glotzer, M. (2005). The Molecular Requirements for Cytokinesis. Science 307: 1735-1739 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wilson, P. G., Simmons, R., Shigali, S. (2004). Novel nuclear defects in KLP61F-deficient mutants in Drosophila are partially suppressed by loss of Ncd function. J. Cell Sci. 117: 4921-4933 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• BALUSKA, F., VOLKMANN, D., BARLOW, P. W. (2004). Eukaryotic Cells and their Cell Bodies: Cell Theory Revised. ANN BOT (LOND) 94: 9-32 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wells, W. A., LeBrasseur, N. (2004). Cells on Parade: The American Society for Cell Biology San Francisco, CA December 13-17, 2003. JCB 164: 480-486 [Full Text]  

Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents