Regulated targeting of protein phosphatase 1 to the outer kinetochore by KNL1 opposes Aurora B kinase |
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Authors: | Dan Liu Mathijs Vleugel Chelsea B. Backer Tetsuya Hori Tatsuo Fukagawa Iain M. Cheeseman Michael A. Lampson |
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Affiliation: | 1.Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104;2.Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, and 3.Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142;4.Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Genetics, and 5.The Graduate University for Advanced Studies Sokendai, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan |
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Abstract: | Regulated interactions between kinetochores and spindle microtubules are essential to maintain genomic stability during chromosome segregation. The Aurora B kinase phosphorylates kinetochore substrates to destabilize kinetochore–microtubule interactions and eliminate incorrect attachments. These substrates must be dephosphorylated to stabilize correct attachments, but how opposing kinase and phosphatase activities are coordinated at the kinetochore is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a conserved motif in the kinetochore protein KNL1 directly interacts with and targets protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) to the outer kinetochore. PP1 recruitment by KNL1 is required to dephosphorylate Aurora B substrates at kinetochores and stabilize microtubule attachments. PP1 levels at kinetochores are regulated and inversely proportional to local Aurora B activity. Indeed, we demonstrate that phosphorylation of KNL1 by Aurora B disrupts the KNL1–PP1 interaction. In total, our results support a positive feedback mechanism by which Aurora B activity at kinetochores not only targets substrates directly, but also prevents localization of the opposing phosphatase. |
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