氯化锂抑制A549细胞增殖及其对Polo-like激酶1转录活性的影响

利用糖原合成酶激酶3的抑制剂氯化锂作用于A549细胞,观察细胞形态与增殖的改变及其对Polo－like激酶1转录活性的影响.采用细胞计数检测细胞增殖,流式细胞术分析细胞周期变化;Western印迹检测磷酸化GSK3以及细胞周期相关蛋白p53、cyclin B1和Plk1的表达变化;RT-PCR检测Plk1 mRNA的表达;荧光素酶报告基因分析氯化锂对Plk1启动子活性的影响.结果显示,5 mmol/L氯化锂作用48 h后,A549细胞即发生明显的形态学改变,细胞增殖减慢并发生G2/M期阻滞;Plk1 mRNA和蛋白表达均升高,p53蛋白表达增强,而cyclin B1的蛋白表达无明显变化.氯化锂作用24 h后,可见pGL2-Plk1转染组中荧光素酶活性增高（与对照质粒相比,P<0.05）,48 h后更明显.以上结果表明, 氯化锂减慢A549细胞增殖,导致G2/M期阻滞,并能增强Plk1的启动子活性,促进Plk1的表达.     

丙戊酸钠抑制A549细胞生长

目的研究丙戊酸钠对肺癌A549细胞增殖和细胞周期的影响。方法MTT检测生长抑制,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期和凋亡,Western blot检测p21WAF1/CIP1蛋白表达。结果丙戊酸钠以剂量依赖性方式抑制A549细胞生长;丙戊酸钠上调G0/G1期比例,下调S期和G2/M期,不影响细胞凋亡;丙戊酸钠上调p21WAF1/CIP1蛋白表达。结论丙戊酸钠上调p21WAF1/CIP1表达,使细胞阻滞于G0/G1期,抑制A549细胞生长。     

CDK4基因沉默对非小细胞肺癌A549 增殖和代谢的影响

目的:通过特异性小干扰RNA(small interfering RNA,si RNA),使CDK4基因沉默,探讨该基因沉默对肺癌A549细胞增殖和代谢的影响及其可能的作用机制。方法:将靶向CDK4小干扰RNA(si RNA-CDK4)和阴性对照干扰片段(si RNA-control)成功转染A549细胞后,利用实时荧光定量PCR和蛋白质免疫印迹法分别检测CDK4在m RNA和蛋白水平的变化;细胞计数法、CCK-8法和软琼脂糖克隆形成实验检测A549增殖的变化和克隆形成能力;FCM法检测A549细胞的细胞周期;18F-FDG摄取实验、乳酸检测试剂盒及海马技术检测A549细胞中葡萄糖、乳酸的量及氧耗的变化;利用RT-PCR检测CDK4基因沉默后A549细胞中糖代谢相关酶m RNA水平的变化。结果:将靶向CDK4小干扰RNA(si RNA-CDK4)转染A549细胞后,可明显抑制CDK4的m RNA和蛋白表达(P0.001,P0.01)。CDK4蛋白抑制后,细胞增殖在48、72和96 h均明显降低(P值均0.05),G1期细胞比例明显增多,S期细胞比例明显减少(P值均0.05);18F-FDG摄取量下降(42.21±1.90)%(P0.05),乳酸的生成量减少(29.39±5.35)%(P0.05),而细胞的基础耗氧量增加(67.17±3.58)%(P0.01);糖酵解相关酶PFKFB3、PKM2、LDHA在m RNA水平均明显减低(P0.001,P0.01,P0.001)。结论:抑制CDK4表达可明显降低糖酵解水平,并增加耗氧量;同时可引起细胞周期阻滞,抑制肿瘤细胞增殖。其机制可能与CDK4直接或间接调节糖酵解相关酶的表达有关。     

曲古霉素A抑制肺癌细胞增殖的分子机制

目的:探讨组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂曲古霉素A(trichostatin A,TSA)对人非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)A549细胞增殖抑制作用及机制.方法:以不同剂量TSA(0.1μM,0.5pM和1μM)处理A549细胞.MTT法检测细胞增殖情况,碘化丙啶(PI)染色结合流式细胞仪检测细胞周期,Westem blot法检测P21蛋白表达,流式细胞仪检测细胞线粒体膜电位和细胞凋亡.结果:TSA剂量依赖性抑制肺癌A549细胞增殖,表现为细胞周期阻滞于G2/M期,同时P21蛋白表达增高;此外,TSA还可以剂量依赖性的促进A549细胞凋亡,伴有线粒体膜电位下降.结论:TSA促进NSCLCA549细胞周期阻滞和凋亡,从而抑制其增殖.     

高表达精脒/精胺N1-乙酞基转移酶对人肺癌A549细胞株生长的影响

旨在研究人精脒/精胺N1-乙酰基转移酶(spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase,SSAT)高表达对人肺癌A549细胞生长的影响。以pCR2.1-SSAT质粒为模板,PCR法扩增人SSAT基因并克隆至pcDNA3.1表达载体。重组质粒转染A549细胞后,RT-PCR法和Western blotting法筛选SSAT高表达的细胞株。MTT法检测细胞增殖,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期。成功构建pcDNA3.1-SSAT重组质粒,用该质粒转染A549细胞后,筛选获得稳定高表达SSAT的细胞株。SSAT高表达导致细胞生长抑制,S期细胞减少和自发性凋亡细胞增多。结果显示,稳定高表达SSAT可在A549肺癌细胞中部分模拟多胺类似物类抗癌药物的药理活性,导致瘤细胞生长抑制和细胞凋亡。     

澳洲茄边碱通过Caspase3蛋白诱导人肺腺癌A549细胞的凋亡作用

运用中药龙葵提取物澳洲茄边碱处理人肺腺癌A549细胞,研究其对A549细胞的抑制及凋亡作用,探讨澳洲茄边碱对肺腺癌的作用机制。通过细胞增殖抑制实验检测不同浓度澳洲茄边碱对A549细胞增殖的影响,采用蛋白印迹法(Western blot)检测凋亡蛋白Caspase3的表达水平,采用流式细胞术测定处理后A549细胞的凋亡水平及细胞周期变化。结果显示,不同浓度澳洲茄边碱均能抑制A549的增殖,呈浓度效应;用不同浓度澳洲茄边碱处理A549细胞24h后,Western blot结果显示,随药物浓度增大,凋亡蛋白Caspase3水解程度增高,对A549凋亡作用明显增强;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡的结果显示,20μmol·L-1澳洲茄边碱处理A549细胞后,细胞发生明显凋亡,其中早期凋亡细胞比例为25.35%,晚期凋亡细胞比例为11.47%;流式细胞术检测细胞周期的结果显示,20μmol·L-1澳洲茄边碱处理A549细胞后,细胞周期阻滞于G2/M期。本研究结果表明,澳洲茄边碱通过激活细胞凋亡通路中的Caspase3蛋白触发细胞凋亡,同时将A549细胞阻滞在细胞周期的G2/M期,抑制人肺腺癌细胞A549的生长。     

维甲酸受体β基因RNAi表达质粒的构建及其对A549细胞增殖和分化的影响

目的：利用RNA干扰（RNAi）技术,构建针对维甲酸受体（RAR）β基因的小干扰RNA（siRNA）表达质粒,诱导RARβ基因沉默,并观察其对肺癌细胞A549株的细胞周期和增殖的影响。方法：依据设计siRNA的原则。针对人RARβ的mRNA序列,设计并合成编码siRNA的2条寡核苷酸序列,经退火成互补双链,再克隆到pSUPER-NEO-GFP真核表达载体中构建重组体pSUPER-RAR[β转染至A549细胞中,以空质粒和RARβ高表达质粒转染为对照,用Western印迹检测RARβ基因的表达,并采用M1Tr试验检测转染后细胞株的增殖和细胞分化情况。结果：表达人类RARβ基因的siRNA重组表达质粒构建成功;MTT试验结果表明,转染的A549-RARβ-si细胞增殖能力降低。结论：采用RNAi技术特异阻断RARB基因表达,通过转染A549细胞,可使其细胞形态发生变化,并抑制其细胞生长。     

RNAi干扰WDR79基因对肺腺癌A549细胞增殖的抑制效应

通过RNA干扰技术沉默端粒酶关键组分WDR79的表达,采用PCR法、Western blot、免疫荧光共聚焦、Southern blot、MTT、流式细胞术(FCM)分别检测WDR79 siRNA瞬时转染A549细胞后WDR79基因和蛋白的表达水平、端粒酶和端粒的结合情况和端粒长度变化、细胞生长增殖变化、细胞周期的变化及细胞凋亡率,探讨该基因的沉默表达对A549细胞的抑制作用。结果表明,WDR79 siRNA瞬时转染A549细胞显著降低WDR79 mRNA及蛋白水平(P0.05),端粒和端粒酶的结合水平明显减少(P0.05),细胞增殖的活力被抑制(P0.05),干扰后停留在S期的细胞减少(P0.05),停留在G1期的细胞增多(P0.05)。提示WDR79 siRNA的瞬时转染可显著降低WDR79基因及蛋白的表达,并有抑制肺腺癌A549细胞的生物学效应,进一步探索了WDR79基因在肿瘤发生发展中的重要作用,并在为肺癌的治疗中寻找更有效的靶点提供了实验证据。     

circ＿0015756通过调控miR-515-5p/HMGB3轴影响肺癌细胞增殖、凋亡和迁移

为探讨环状RNA 0015756(circ_0015756)对肺癌细胞增殖、凋亡和迁移的影响和潜在机制,该研究采用实时定量PCR(RT-qPCR)分析肺癌组织和癌旁组织中circ_0015756和微小RNA(miR)-515-5p的表达水平。同时,将circ_0015756小干扰RNA(si-circ_0015756)、miR-515-5p模拟物、si-circ_0015756+miR-515-5p抑制物分别转染肺癌细胞A549,采用四甲基偶氮唑蓝实验、平板克隆实验检测A549细胞的增殖能力,采用流式细胞术分析A549细胞的凋亡率,采用划痕愈合实验和Transwell实验检测A549细胞的迁移能力。蛋白质印迹法测定高迁移率族蛋白3(HMGB3)的表达水平。双荧光素酶分析circ_0015756与miR-515-5p、miR-515-5p与HMGB3的靶向关系。结果显示,肺癌组织中circ_0015756的相对水平显著高于癌旁组织(P0.05),miR-515-5p的相对水平显著低于癌旁组织(P0.05)。干扰circ_0015756表达后A549细胞增殖抑制率、凋亡率、miR-515-5p的相对水平显著升高(P0.05),集落形成数、迁移距离、迁移细胞数、HMGB3蛋白的相对水平显著降低(P0.05)。过表达miR-515-5p后A549细胞增殖抑制率、凋亡率显著升高(P0.05),集落形成数、迁移距离、迁移细胞数、HMGB3蛋白的相对水平显著降低(P0.05)。抑制miR-515-5p表达明显减弱干扰circ_0015756表达对A549细胞增殖、集落形成、迁移以及HMGB3蛋白表达的影响(P0.05)。circ_0015756与miR-515-5p直接结合,miR-515-5p与HMGB3直接结合。总之,干扰circ_0015756通过靶向上调miR-515-5p/HMGB3轴抑制肺癌细胞增殖和迁移,诱导细胞凋亡。     

RNA 干涉介导的Plk1 沉默对乳腺癌细胞恶性生物表型的影响

目的:研究乳腺癌细胞中丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶Plk1基因表达下调后对其恶性生物表型的影响。方法:利用pSilencer4.1-CMVneo质粒,分别构建针对Plk1基因的RNA干涉载体(pSilencer4.1-shPlk1),利用脂质体Lipofectamine2000转染MCF-7细胞,G418筛选稳定的转染细胞系。半定量RT-PCR和Western blot分别检测Plk1基因mRNA和蛋白表达,MTT和克隆形成试验检测细胞增殖活性的变化,流式细胞仪分析细胞周期和凋亡的变化,最后分析MCF-7细胞对紫杉类药物(紫杉醇和多西他赛)化疗敏感性的变化。结果:成功筛选了稳定转染细胞系(MCF-7/shPlk1和MCF-7/shcontrol)。同MCF-7/shPlk1细胞相比,MCF-7/shPlk1细胞中Plk1基因mRNA和蛋白表达水平分别下调65.8%和74.4%(P<0.05)。同MCF-7/shcontrol,MCF-7/shPlk1细胞增殖速度显著抑制,到第5天时抑制率达到44.9±3.2%(P<0.05)。同时,MCF-7/shPlk1细胞的克隆形成能力显著降低(P<0.01)。流式细胞仪技术分析细胞周期结果表明:MCF-7/shPlk1细胞的G2/M期细胞比例显著增加了21.1±4.1%,而S期细胞比例则显著降低了(18.5±3.1%;P<0.05)。流式细胞仪技术分析细胞凋亡结果表明:MCF-7/shPlk1细胞的凋亡率约显著增加了13.1±2.3%(P<0.05)。同时还发现:MCF-7/shPlk1细胞中激活的caspase-3蛋白显著增加,Bcl-2蛋白显著降低,而Bax蛋白则显著增加。结论:RNA干涉载体能特异性下调乳腺癌细胞中Plk1基因的表达,从而抑制乳腺癌细胞的增殖和体外克隆形成能力,同时诱导乳腺癌细胞的G2/M期阻滞和细胞凋亡率显著增加。因此,靶向Plk1基因的生物治疗有望成为未来临床乳腺癌的一个重要的辅助治疗策略。     

siRNA-cyclin D1对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞增殖的抑制作用

研究小干扰RNA(small interfering RNA,siRNA)对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞株cyclin D1表达的抑制及对细胞增殖的影响。化学合成针对cyclin D1基因的siRNA,转染MCF-7细胞株;分别应用荧光定量PCR和免疫印迹测定cyclin D1 mRNA和蛋白的表达,CCK-8测定细胞的增殖活性,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期,软琼脂培养检测细胞克隆形成能力。在实验中,10、50、100 nmol/L siRNA-cyclin D1分别使MCF-7细胞cyclin D1 mRNA表达降低了57．85%、63．22%和68．02%,蛋白表达降低了51．13%、62．09%、77．68%。转染siRNA-cyclin D1后,细胞增殖受到抑制,细胞周期阻滞于G1期,软琼脂克隆形成率降低。结果提示siRNA可以有效抑制MCF-7细胞株中cyclin D1的表达,使细胞周期阻滞于G1期,从而抑制细胞增殖。     

Polo-like kinase-1 is a pivotal regulator of microtubule assembly during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation,fertilization, and early embryonic mitosis

Polo-like kinases (Plks) are a family of serine/threonine protein kinases that have been activated through phosphorylation. The activity of these kinases has been shown to be required for regulating multiple stages of mitotic progression in somatic cells. In this experiment, the changes in Plk1 expression were detected in mouse oocytes through Western blotting. The subcellular localization of Plk1 during oocyte meiotic maturation, fertilization, and early cleavage as well as after antibody microinjection or microtubule assembly disturbance was studied by confocal microscopy. The quantity of Plk1 protein remained stable during meiotic maturation and decreased gradually after fertilization. Plk1 was localized to the spindle poles of both meiotic and mitotic spindles at the early M phase and then translocated to the middle region. At anaphase and telophase, Plk1 was concentrated at the midbody of cytoplasmic cleavages. Plk1 was concentrated between the male and female pronuclei after fertilization. Plk1 disappeared at the spindle region when microtubule formation was inhibited by colchicine or staurosporine, while it was concentrated as several dots in the cytoplasm after taxol treatment. Plk1 antibody injection decreased the germinal vesicle breakdown rate and distorted MI spindle organization. Our results indicate that Plk1 is a pivotal regulator of microtubule organization during mouse oocyte meiosis, fertilization, and cleavage and that its functions may be regulated by other kinases, such as staurosporine-sensitive kinases.     

Characterization of Polo-like kinase-1 in rat oocytes and early embryos implies its functional roles in the regulation of meiotic maturation,fertilization, and cleavage

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is a family of serine/threonine protein kinases that play important regulatory roles during mitotic cell cycle progression. In this study, Plk1 expression, subcellular localization, and possible functions during rat oocyte meiotic maturation, fertilization, and embryonic cleavages were studied by using RT-PCR, Western blot, confocal microscopy, drug-treatments, and antibody microinjection. Both the mRNA and protein of this kinase were detected in rat maturing oocytes and developing embryos. Confocal microscopy revealed that Plk1 distributed abundantly in the nucleus at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage, was associated with spindle poles during the formation of M-phase spindle, and was translocated to the spindle mid-zone at anaphase. In fertilized eggs, Plk1 was strongly stained in the cytoplasm between the apposing male and female pronuclei, from where microtubules radiated. Throughout cytokinesis, Plk1 was localized to the division plane, both during oocyte meiosis and embryonic mitosis. The specific subcellular distribution of Plk1 was distorted after disrupting the M-phase spindle, while additional aggregation dots could be induced in the cytoplasm by taxol, suggesting its intimate association with active microtubule assembly. Plk1 antibody microinjection delayed the meiotic resumption and blocked the emission of polar bodies. In conclusion, Plk1 may be a multifunctional kinase that plays pivotal regulatory roles in microtubule assembly during rat oocyte meiotic maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic mitosis.     

RNA干扰Ｃyclin D1基因表达对瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞增殖和G1期调控的影响

为研究siRNA干扰瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞cyclin D1基因表达,对瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞的增殖、细胞周期和G1期调控的影响,构建了靶向cyclin D1的siRNA表达质粒.利用LipofecmmineTM2000转染体外培养的瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞,应用荧光定量PCR、RT-PCR检测cyclin D1 mRNA的干扰效果,应用MTT法、流式细胞仪检测细胞增殖和细胞周期的变化,应用免疫组织化学染色检测成纤维细胞中cyclin D1、CDK4、P16、pRb蛋白表达的影响.主要结果如F:a.靶向cyclin D1的特异性siRNA序列可以高效地抑制成纤维细胞cyclin D1基因表达,对照组与实验组在mRNA水平其表达抑制率分别为63.68%和92.83%(P<0.01);b.可以显著抑制瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞的增殖,改变细胞周期分布,G0/G1期细胞比例显著高于各对照组(P<0.05),细胞分裂被阻滞;c.免疫组化染色发现,转染72 h后,过表达的cyclin D1、CDK4和pRb蛋白,在瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞中均出现了不同程度的表达下调,而低表达的P16则呈上调表现.由上述结果可见,构建的靶向cyclin D1的RNAi表达质粒,可有效地抑制瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞cyclin D1基因表达,通过改变Gl期相关周期蛋白的水平,影响G1/S期的进程,显著地抑制成纤维细胞的增殖.     

Physical and Functional Interactions between Mitotic Kinases during Polyploidization and Megakaryocytic Differentiation

Human Polo-like kinase 3 (Plk3), a protein serine/threonine kinase, is involved in the regulation of cell cycle progression at multiple stages. Our previous studies revealed that Plk3 is closely associated with centrosomes and plays an important role in the regulation of microtubule dynamics. Here we describe the physical interaction of Plk3 with Aurora A and BubR1 kinases, and the significance of this interaction during terminal differentiation and polyploidization of megakaryocytes. Specifically, double immunofluorescence staining confirms that Plk3 and Aurora A co-localize to centrosomes or spindle poles during essentially all phases of the cell cycle and that BubR1 also exhibits spindle pole localization during metaphase. Pull-down assays show that Plk3 physically interacts with Aurora A as well as BubR1. Upon treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), human erythroleukemic cells (K562) underwent megakaryocytic differentiation characterized by polyploidization and expression of mature megakaryocyte surface markers such as CD41. Plk3 protein levels were seen to be increased during PMA-induced megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cells, correlating well with the ploidy level in these cells. Similarly, Aurora A and its phosphorylated form also increased after PMA treatment. In contrast, BubR1 levels were markedly reduced. Taken together, our study suggests that Plk3 and Aurora A kinases may lie in the same regulatory pathway and that Plk3 and Aurora A as well as BubR1 may play an important role in polyploidization and megakaryocytic differentiation.     

Cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by human Polo-like kinase 3 is mediated through perturbation of microtubule integrity

Human Polo-like kinase 3 (Plk3, previously termed Prk or Fnk) is involved in regulation of cell cycle progression through the M phase (B. Ouyang, H. Pan, L. Lu, J. Li, P. Stambrook, B. Li, and W. Dai, J. Biol. Chem. 272:28646-28651, 1997). Here we report that in most interphase cells endogenous Plk3 was predominantly localized around the nuclear membrane. Double labeling with Plk3 and gamma-tubulin, the latter a major component of pericentriole materials, revealed that Plk3 was closely associated with centrosomes and that its localization to centrosomes was dependent on the integrity of microtubules. Throughout mitosis, Plk3 appeared to be localized to mitotic apparatus such as spindle poles and mitotic spindles. During telophase, a significant amount of Plk3 was also detected in the midbody. Ectopic expression of Plk3 mutants dramatically changed cell morphology primarily due to their effects on microtubule dynamics. Expression of a constitutively active Plk3 (Plk3-A) resulted in rapid cell shrinkage, which led to formation of cells with an elongated, unsevered, and taxol-sensitive midbody. In contrast, cells expressing a kinase-defective Plk3 (Plk3(K52R)) mutant exhibited extended, deformed cytoplasmic structures, the phenotype of which was somewhat refractory to taxol treatment. Expression of both Plk3-A and Plk3(K52R) induced apparent G(2)/M arrest followed by apoptosis, although the kinase-defective mutant was less effective. Taken together, our studies strongly suggest that Plk3 plays an important role in the regulation of microtubule dynamics and centrosomal function in the cell and that deregulated expression of Plk3 results in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.     

Bimodal Interaction of Mammalian Polo-Like Kinase 1 and a Centrosomal Scaffold,Cep192, in the Regulation of Bipolar Spindle Formation

Serving as microtubule-organizing centers, centrosomes play a key role in forming bipolar spindles. The mechanism of how centrosomes promote bipolar spindle assembly in various organisms remains largely unknown. A recent study with Xenopus laevis egg extracts suggested that the Plk1 ortholog Plx1 interacts with the phospho-T46 (p-T46) motif of Xenopus Cep192 (xCep192) to form an xCep192-mediated xAurA-Plx1 cascade that is critical for bipolar spindle formation. Here, we demonstrated that in cultured human cells, Cep192 recruits AurA and Plk1 in a cooperative manner, and this event is important for the reciprocal activation of AurA and Plk1. Strikingly, Plk1 interacted with Cep192 through either the p-T44 (analogous to Xenopus p-T46) or the newly identified p-S995 motif via its C-terminal noncatalytic polo-box domain. The interaction between Plk1 and the p-T44 motif was prevalent in the presence of Cep192-bound AurA, whereas the interaction of Plk1 with the p-T995 motif was preferred in the absence of AurA binding. Notably, the loss of p-T44- and p-S995-dependent Cep192-Plk1 interactions induced an additive defect in recruiting Plk1 and γ-tubulin to centrosomes, which ultimately led to a failure in proper bipolar spindle formation and mitotic progression. Thus, we propose that Plk1 promotes centrosome-based bipolar spindle formation by forming two functionally nonredundant complexes with Cep192.     

Polo-like kinase-1 is required for bipolar spindle formation but is dispensable for anaphase promoting complex/Cdc20 activation and initiation of cytokinesis

Polo-like kinase-1 (Plk1) performs multiple essential functions during the cell cycle. Here we show that human Plk1-deficient cells are unable to separate their centrosomes, fail to form a bipolar spindle, and undergo a Mad2/BubR1-dependent prometaphase arrest. However, electron microscopy demonstrates that kinetochore-microtubule interactions can be established in cells lacking Plk1. In addition, co-depletion of Plk1 and survivin allows mitotic exit. This indicates that Plk1 depletion does not prevent microtubule attachment, but specifically interferes with the generation of tension, as a consequence of a failure to form a bipolar spindle. Moreover, we find that after silencing of the spindle assembly checkpoint, degradation of cyclin B1 is unaffected in cells lacking Plk1. These data indicate that activation of the anaphase promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C)-Cdc20 complex that is under control of the spindle assembly checkpoint does not require Plk1 activity. Finally, we find that translocation of chromosome passengers and initiation of cleavage furrow ingression is unaffected in cells depleted of Plk1. Thus, our data confirm an important role of Plk1 in bipolar spindle formation, and also demonstrate that Plk1 is dispensable for APC/C-Cdc20 activation and the initiation of cytokinesis.     

Mechanisms of the Ase1/PRC1/MAP65 family in central spindle assembly

During cytokinesis, the organization of the spindle midzone and chromosome segregation is controlled by the central spindle, a microtubule cytoskeleton containing kinesin motors and non‐motor microtubule‐associated proteins. The anaphase spindle elongation 1/protein regulator of cytokinesis 1/microtubule associated protein 65 (Ase1/PRC1/MAP65) family of microtubule‐bundling proteins are key regulators of central spindle assembly, mediating microtubule crosslinking and spindle elongation in the midzone. Ase1/PRC1/MAP65 serves as a complex regulatory platform for the recruitment of other midzone proteins at the spindle midzone. Herein, we summarize recent advances in understanding of the structural domains and molecular kinetics of the Ase1/PRC1/MAP65 family. We summarize the regulatory network involved in post‐translational modifications of Ase1/PRC1 by cyclin‐dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1), cell division cycle 14 (Cdc14) and Polo‐like kinase 1 (Plk1) and also highlight multiple functions of Ase1/PRC1 in central spindle organization, spindle elongation and cytokinesis during cell division.