Aurora A and cortical flows promote polarization and cytokinesis by inducing asymmetric ECT-2 accumulation
In the early Caenorhabditis elegans embryo, cell polarization and cytokinesis are interrelated yet distinct processes. Here, we sought to understand a poorly understood aspect of cleavage furrow positioning. Early C. elegans embryos deficient in the cytokinetic regulator centralspindlin form furrows...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2022-12-01
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| Series: | eLife |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/83992 |
| _version_ | 1797974916001169408 |
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| author | Katrina M Longhini Michael Glotzer |
| author_facet | Katrina M Longhini Michael Glotzer |
| author_sort | Katrina M Longhini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the early Caenorhabditis elegans embryo, cell polarization and cytokinesis are interrelated yet distinct processes. Here, we sought to understand a poorly understood aspect of cleavage furrow positioning. Early C. elegans embryos deficient in the cytokinetic regulator centralspindlin form furrows, due to an inhibitory activity that depends on aster positioning relative to the polar cortices. Here, we show polar relaxation is associated with depletion of cortical ECT-2, a RhoGEF, specifically at the posterior cortex. Asymmetric ECT-2 accumulation requires intact centrosomes, Aurora A (AIR-1), and myosin-dependent cortical flows. Within a localization competent ECT-2 fragment, we identified three putative phospho-acceptor sites in the PH domain of ECT-2 that render ECT-2 responsive to inhibition by AIR-1. During both polarization and cytokinesis, our results suggest that centrosomal AIR-1 breaks symmetry via ECT-2 phosphorylation; this local inhibition of ECT-2 is amplified by myosin-driven flows that generate regional ECT-2 asymmetry. Together, these mechanisms cooperate to induce polarized assembly of cortical myosin, contributing to both embryo polarization and cytokinesis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:27:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a10debc78ed84f8ba4c0608c8c616a10 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:27:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj.art-a10debc78ed84f8ba4c0608c8c616a102022-12-29T15:59:23ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2022-12-011110.7554/eLife.83992Aurora A and cortical flows promote polarization and cytokinesis by inducing asymmetric ECT-2 accumulationKatrina M Longhini0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6600-7083Michael Glotzer1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8723-7232Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, United StatesDepartment of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, United StatesIn the early Caenorhabditis elegans embryo, cell polarization and cytokinesis are interrelated yet distinct processes. Here, we sought to understand a poorly understood aspect of cleavage furrow positioning. Early C. elegans embryos deficient in the cytokinetic regulator centralspindlin form furrows, due to an inhibitory activity that depends on aster positioning relative to the polar cortices. Here, we show polar relaxation is associated with depletion of cortical ECT-2, a RhoGEF, specifically at the posterior cortex. Asymmetric ECT-2 accumulation requires intact centrosomes, Aurora A (AIR-1), and myosin-dependent cortical flows. Within a localization competent ECT-2 fragment, we identified three putative phospho-acceptor sites in the PH domain of ECT-2 that render ECT-2 responsive to inhibition by AIR-1. During both polarization and cytokinesis, our results suggest that centrosomal AIR-1 breaks symmetry via ECT-2 phosphorylation; this local inhibition of ECT-2 is amplified by myosin-driven flows that generate regional ECT-2 asymmetry. Together, these mechanisms cooperate to induce polarized assembly of cortical myosin, contributing to both embryo polarization and cytokinesis.https://elifesciences.org/articles/83992cytokinesispolarizationCaenorhabditis elegansRho GTPaseRhoGEFAurora A |
| spellingShingle | Katrina M Longhini Michael Glotzer Aurora A and cortical flows promote polarization and cytokinesis by inducing asymmetric ECT-2 accumulation eLife cytokinesis polarization Caenorhabditis elegans Rho GTPase RhoGEF Aurora A |
| title | Aurora A and cortical flows promote polarization and cytokinesis by inducing asymmetric ECT-2 accumulation |
| title_full | Aurora A and cortical flows promote polarization and cytokinesis by inducing asymmetric ECT-2 accumulation |
| title_fullStr | Aurora A and cortical flows promote polarization and cytokinesis by inducing asymmetric ECT-2 accumulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aurora A and cortical flows promote polarization and cytokinesis by inducing asymmetric ECT-2 accumulation |
| title_short | Aurora A and cortical flows promote polarization and cytokinesis by inducing asymmetric ECT-2 accumulation |
| title_sort | aurora a and cortical flows promote polarization and cytokinesis by inducing asymmetric ect 2 accumulation |
| topic | cytokinesis polarization Caenorhabditis elegans Rho GTPase RhoGEF Aurora A |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/83992 |
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