Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) Regulates EG5 to Control Mitotic Progression

Sci Rep. 2017 May 9;7(1):1630. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01915-w.

Abstract

EG5 (KIF11) is a member of the kinesin-like protein family involved in centrosome separation and bipolar spindle formation. When a cell enters mitosis, CDK1 phosphorylates EG5 at Thr926 and promotes EG5 localization on the mitotic spindle which drives bipolar spindle formation. EG5 provides power for spindle movement and thus controls the dynamics of spindle assembly. However, little is known about EG5 regulation or how EG5 detaches from the spindle upon mitotic exit. In this study we identify EG5 as a novel substrate of PP2A phosphatase, and we show that the PP2A/B55α complex plays an important role in mitotic exit by a mechanism involving EG5. The PP2A/B55α complex physically associates with the EG5 C-terminal tail domain and dephosphorylates EG5 at Thr926 that enables mitotic exit. Conversely PP2A knockdown cells show a high level of phospho-EG5 in late metaphase, which is associated with a delay in mitotic exit. These phenotypic features are similar to those induced by EG5/T926D transfection that mimics phosphorylated EG5 status. Our results argue that PP2A controls mitotic exit through EG5 dephosphorylation. Lack of PP2A leads to abnormal EG5 activation, resulting in delay of mitotic exit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaphase
  • Chromosome Segregation
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Kinesins / metabolism*
  • Metaphase
  • Mitosis*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Phosphothreonine / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / deficiency
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / metabolism*

Substances

  • KIF11 protein, human
  • Phosphothreonine
  • Protein Phosphatase 2
  • Kinesins