Meiosis-specific functions of kinetochore protein SPC105R required for chromosome segregation in Drosophila oocytes

Mol Biol Cell. 2024 Aug 1;35(8):ar105. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E24-02-0067. Epub 2024 Jun 12.

Abstract

The reductional division of meiosis I requires the separation of chromosome pairs towards opposite poles. We have previously implicated the outer kinetochore protein SPC105R/KNL1 in driving meiosis I chromosome segregation through lateral attachments to microtubules and coorientation of sister centromeres. To identify the domains of SPC105R that are critical for meiotic chromosome segregation, an RNAi-resistant gene expression system was developed. We found that the SPC105R C-terminal domain (aa 1284-1960) is necessary and sufficient for recruiting NDC80 to the kinetochore and building the outer kinetochore. Furthermore, the C-terminal domain recruits BUBR1, which in turn recruits the cohesion protection proteins MEI-S332 and PP2A. Of the remaining 1283 amino acids, we found the first 473 are most important for meiosis. The first 123 amino acids of the N-terminal half of SPC105R contain the conserved SLRK and RISF motifs that are targets of PP1 and Aurora B kinase and are most important for regulating the stability of microtubule attachments and maintaining metaphase I arrest. The region between amino acids 124 and 473 are required for lateral microtubule attachments and biorientation of homologues, which are critical for accurate chromosome segregation in meiosis I.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aurora Kinase B / genetics
  • Aurora Kinase B / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Centromere / metabolism
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism
  • Chromosome Segregation*
  • Drosophila Proteins* / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins* / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism
  • Female
  • Kinetochores* / metabolism
  • Meiosis* / physiology
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Microtubules* / metabolism
  • Oocytes* / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Spc105R protein, Drosophila
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • BubR1 protein, Drosophila
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • Aurora Kinase B