In:
Molecular Biology of the Cell, American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), Vol. 19, No. 7 ( 2008-07), p. 3097-3110
Abstract:
To identify novel proteins important for microtubule assembly in mitosis, we have used a centrosome-based complementation assay to enrich for proteins with mitotic functions. An RNA interference (RNAi)-based screen of these proteins allowed us to uncover 13 novel mitotic regulators. We carried out in-depth analyses of one of these proteins, Pontin, which is known to have several functions in interphase, including chromatin remodeling, DNA repair, and transcription. We show that reduction of Pontin by RNAi resulted in defects in spindle assembly in Drosophila S2 cells and in several mammalian tissue culture cell lines. Further characterization of Pontin in Xenopus egg extracts demonstrates that Pontin interacts with the gamma tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC). Because depletion of Pontin leads to defects in the assembly and organization of microtubule arrays in egg extracts, our studies suggest that Pontin has a mitosis-specific function in regulating microtubule assembly.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1059-1524
,
1939-4586
DOI:
10.1091/mbc.e07-11-1202
Language:
English
Publisher:
American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)
Publication Date:
2008
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1474922-1
SSG:
12
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