Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fiorella Faienza, Federica Polverino, Girish Rajendraprasad, Giacomo Milletti, Zehan Hu, Barbara Colella, Deborah Gargano, Flavie Strappazzon, Salvatore Rizza, Mette Vixo Vistesen, Yonglun Luo, Manuela Antonioli, Valentina Cianfanelli, Caterina Ferraina, Gian Maria Fimia, Giuseppe Filomeni, Daniela De Zio, Joern Dengjel, Marin Barisic, Giulia Guarguaglini, Sabrina Di Bartolomeo, Francesco Cecconi
Summary: AMBRA1 is a key factor for nervous system development, primarily associated with autophagy and cell proliferation control. This study reveals that AMBRA1 is phosphorylated during mitosis and is critical for spindle function and orientation, driven by NUMA1 protein. The localization and dynamics of NUMA1 are dependent on AMBRA1 presence, phosphorylation, and binding ability. These findings suggest an additional role of AMBRA1 in tissue morphogenesis and differentiation, which could have implications for development and cancer oncogenesis.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ho-Soo Lee, Sunwoo Min, Ye-Eun Jung, Sunyoung Chae, June Heo, Jae-Ho Lee, TaeSoo Kim, Ho-Chul Kang, Makoto Nakanish, Sun-Shin Cha, Hyeseong Cho
Summary: The study reveals that the RSF1-PLK1 axis plays a crucial role in the activation of Aurora B, enhancing its catalytic activity through phosphorylation and promoting chromosome alignment and segregation. This kinase combination is crucial for regulating dynamic microtubule-kinetochore attachment in early mitosis.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jodi D. Weiss, Shelby L. McVey, Sarah E. Stinebaugh, Caroline F. Sullivan, R. Kelly Dawe, Natalie J. Nannas
Summary: The assembly and disassembly of spindles in maize meiosis exhibit variability but follow a predictable series of events.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Taekyung Kim
Summary: This review summarizes the recent literature on the kinetochore recruitment mechanisms of PLK1 and its roles in spindle assembly checkpoint and attachment between kinetochores and spindle microtubules, providing an overview of how the local distribution of PLK1 could regulate major pathways in mitosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Yuqing Zhang, Chunlin Song, Lei Wang, Hongfei Jiang, Yujing Zhai, Ying Wang, Jing Fang, Gang Zhang
Summary: This review summarizes the research progress on the role of Bub1 in mitosis over the past three decades. The studies have revealed that Bub1 plays important roles in checkpoint regulation and chromosome alignment. The essentiality of Bub1 in higher eukaryotic cells is discussed, along with some unresolved questions raised for future study.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Ying Xu, Chang -Long Xu, Zhong-Feng Xu, Xin-Jie Wang, Hui-Sheng Liang, Zhao-Cheng Zeng, Li-Xin Zeng, Kang-Na Wei, Shu-Zi Deng, Shu-Juan Xie, Jiang Jiang, Yu-Xin Liu, Yun-Kao Cao, Hai-Long Wang
Summary: Fbf1 plays a crucial role in spindle assembly and chromosome arrangement during mouse oocyte meiosis, affecting the progression of cell cycle.
Article
Cell Biology
Alexandra L. Nguyen, Marie Diane Fadel, Iain M. Cheeseman
Summary: Most cell division components are essential for viability across human cell lines, but there are proteins that exhibit cell line-specific essentiality. Understanding the behaviors of these proteins is critical for our understanding of complex biological processes. The differential essentiality approach reveals the contributions of the CENP-O complex, shedding light on the precise functions and interactions within the cell division process.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Enrique Alfaro, Pablo Lopez-Jimenez, Jose Gonzalez-Martinez, Marcos Malumbres, Jose A. Suja, Rocio Gomez
Summary: The study reveals that during meiotic divisions in male mice, centrosomes duplicate twice to form bipolar spindles, with Polo-like kinase 1 playing a central role in centrosome assembly, maturation, migration, and spindle formation during spermatogenesis. Inhibition of both Polo-like kinase 1 and Aurora A in organotypic cultures of seminiferous tubules highlights their prominent role in regulating the formation of meiotic bipolar spindles.
Article
Cell Biology
Zhe Dai, Kun Wang, Yin Gao
Summary: The study used bioinformatic methods to explore the expression profiles of B4GALT family in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and found their close association with biological processes such as microtubule spindle assembly, with B4GALT4 playing a crucial role. The research suggests that B4GALT4 is critical for the development of HCC and may provide new strategies for improving patient outcomes.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ximing Shao, Zhihao Ding, Wenhua Zhou, Yanyan Li, Zhibin Li, Haodong Cui, Xian Lin, Guoli Cao, Binghua Cheng, Haiyan Sun, Meiqing Li, Ke Liu, Danyi Lu, Shengyong Geng, Wenli Shi, Guofang Zhang, Qingle Song, Liang Chen, Guocheng Wang, Wu Su, Lintao Cai, Lijing Fang, David Tai Leong, Yang Li, Xue-Feng Yu, Hongchang Li
Summary: The study reveals a tumoricidal mechanism of black phosphorus nanomaterials where they directly affect the mitotic centrosome machinery by suppressing polo-like kinase 1, suggesting that nanomaterials can be applied in targeted cancer therapy with their intrinsic nano-bio properties.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angela Flavia Serpico, Caterina Pisauro, Domenico Grieco
Summary: During cell division, the activation of the cyclin B-cdk1 (Cdk1) complex plays a crucial role in transitioning from interphase to mitosis. Positive Cdk1 activation loops and inhibition of Cdk1 counteracting phosphatases ensure the irreversible establishment of mitosis. Mitosis is a bistable state that shows hysteresis, enabling cells to tolerate moderate drops in Cdk1 activity without exiting mitosis. Recent evidence suggests that stable mitosis and hysteresis are also necessary for the assembly of the mitotic spindle, contributing to the forward progression of mitosis.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aakanksha Sane, Shreyas Sridhar, Kaustuv Sanyal, Santanu K. Ghosh
Summary: Shugoshin proteins are evolutionarily conserved and play various roles in maintaining genomic stability in different cells, including regulating chromosome positioning, maintaining chromosomal separation efficiency, and serving as a component of the spindle assembly checkpoint to ensure cell stability. This study in Candida albicans reveals novel functions of Shugoshin, such as facilitating timely disassembly of the mitotic spindle and prolonging the response to improper kinetochore-microtubule attachments.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhen-Yu She, Meng-Fei Xu, Sun-Ying Jiang, Ya-Lan Wei
Summary: This study reveals the role of CENP-E in regulating chromosome alignment and spindle organization in male spermatocyte meiotic division, contributing to faithful chromosome segregation and stability.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biology
Nicolas Macaisne, Laura Bellutti, Kimberley Laband, Frances Edwards, Laras Pitayu-Nugroho, Alison Gervais, Thadshagine Ganeswaran, Helene Geoffroy, Gilliane Maton, Julie C. Canman, Benjamin Lacroix, Julien Dumont
Summary: During cell division, the microtubule-based spindle plays a crucial role in chromosome segregation. The interaction between spindle microtubules and kinetochores is essential for the proper alignment and segregation of chromosomes. This study focuses on a kinetochore module called the BHC module, which consists of BUB-1, HCP-1/2, and CLS-2, and shows that it stabilizes microtubules, promoting spindle formation and accurate chromosome segregation.
Review
Cell Biology
Jaroslav Kalous, Daria Aleshkina
Summary: Cells contain a diverse network of signaling and regulatory proteins to ensure the proper progression of cell division. A key regulator in this process is the enzyme polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), which plays important roles in mitosis, meiosis, and cytokinesis. PLK1 controls various aspects of cell division, including nuclear envelope breakdown, centrosome maturation, spindle assembly, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis. In mammalian oogenesis, PLK1 is essential for the resumption of meiosis and establishment of the meiotic spindle. Additionally, PLK1 regulates localized mRNA translation by phosphorylating and inhibiting the translational repressor 4E-BP1, a downstream target of the mTOR pathway.
Article
Oncology
Monika Raab, Nene F. Kobayashi, Sven Becker, Elisabeth Kurunci-Csacsko, Andrea Kraemer, Klaus Strebhardt, Mourad Sanhaji
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2020)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ranadip Mandal, Joan Compte Barron, Izabela Kostova, Sven Becker, Klaus Strebhardt
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-REVIEWS ON CANCER
(2020)
Review
Oncology
Izabela Kostova, Ranadip Mandal, Sven Becker, Klaus Strebhardt
Summary: Caspase-8, a key regulator in multiple signaling pathways, not only controls cell cycle and behavior but also immune response and cytokine production within the tumor microenvironment. Dysregulated expression of caspase-8 in ovarian cancer influences tumor aggressiveness and immune resistance, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for developing new treatment strategies against the complex tumor microenvironment.
CANCER AND METASTASIS REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Monika Kressin, Daniela Fietz, Sven Becker, Klaus Strebhardt
Summary: Polo-like kinases (PLKs) are a group of highly conserved serine/threonine kinases that play crucial roles in tumorigenesis, particularly with the overexpression of PLK1 being associated with poor prognosis in different cancers. Current research is focusing on investigating the multiple functions of PLKs and their potential as cancer targets, with a specific emphasis on PLK1 and PLK4 inhibition in various cancer trials.
Article
Oncology
Monika Raab, Marcel Rak, Roberta Tesch, Khayal Gasimli, Sven Becker, Stefan Knapp, Klaus Strebhardt, Mourad Sanhaji
Summary: The study found that MRIA9 enhances the efficacy of paclitaxel in eliminating ovarian cancer cells and inhibits the activity of SIK2, leading to abnormal mitosis. Additionally, MRIA9 increases sensitivity to paclitaxel, suggesting selective targeting of SIK2 in ovarian cancer as a potential therapeutic strategy for overcoming paclitaxel resistance.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sophia Indira Romberg, Nina-Naomi Kreis, Alexandra Friemel, Susanne Roth, Alice Steglich Souto, Samira Catharina Hoock, Kyra Fischer, Thorsten Nowak, Christine Solbach, Frank Louwen, Andreas Ritter, Juping Yuan
Summary: This study found that the functionality of hCV-MSCs is dependent on primary cilia and that primary cilia are impaired in hCV-MSCs from preeclamptic placentas.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monika Raab, Yves Matthess, Christopher A. Raab, Niklas Gutfreund, Volker Doetsch, Sven Becker, Mourad Sanhaji, Klaus Strebhardt
Summary: PLK1 activation during the G2 phase is controlled by dimerization supported by Bora and dissociation triggered by Aurora-A phosphorylation, allowing timely entry into mitosis. Interfering with this dimer/monomer switch affects PLK1's nuclear shuttling and localization during the G2-M transition, suggesting potential for novel PLK1 inhibitors.
Article
Oncology
Ha Hyung Moon, Nina-Naomi Kreis, Alexandra Friemel, Susanne Roth, Dorothea Schulte, Christine Solbach, Frank Louwen, Juping Yuan, Andreas Ritter
Summary: The microtubule cytoskeleton regulator MCAK plays a critical role in cell motility and migration by affecting the dynamics of actin-MT cytoskeleton and FA turnover, potentially promoting malignant progression and metastasis of tumor cells.
Review
Oncology
Maximilian Fleischmann, Georgios Chatzikonstantinou, Emmanouil Fokas, Jorn Wichmann, Hans Christiansen, Klaus Strebhardt, Claus Roedel, Nikolaos Tselis, Franz Roedel
Summary: Despite advancements in screening and vaccination programs, uterine cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. New therapeutic approaches have not significantly improved treatment response and prognosis, highlighting the urgent need for robust molecular markers to predict therapy response and clinical outcome.
Review
Oncology
Andreas Ritter, Nina-Naomi Kreis, Samira Catharina Hoock, Christine Solbach, Frank Louwen, Juping Yuan
Summary: Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (ASCs/MSCs), especially in the obese state, play a critical role in the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment and promoting breast cancer progression. This review discusses the impact of obesity on ASCs/MSCs and their crosstalk with breast cancer cells, as well as the related molecular mechanisms and potential clinical significance. The roles of ASCs/MSCs in various aspects of breast cancer progression are highlighted, and targeting these cells may offer a new approach for effective breast cancer treatment.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Khayal Gasimli, Monika Raab, Morva Tahmasbi Rad, Elisabeth Kurunci-Csacsko, Sven Becker, Klaus Strebhardt, Mourad Sanhaji
Summary: This study found that amplification of KRAS may be the underlying cause of PARPi resistance in BRCA2-deficient high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Inhibition of PLK1 has shown to restore sensitivity to PARPi in KRAS-amplified HGSOC and enhance the cellular apoptotic response to carboplatin-based chemotherapy. These findings shed new light on the role of PLK1 in reversing PARPi resistance and offer a potential therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Oncology
Andreas Ritter, Nina-Naomi Kreis
Article
Oncology
Andreas Ritter, Nina-Naomi Kreis, Susanne Roth, Alexandra Friemel, Babek Kahn Safdar, Samira Catharina Hoock, Julia Maria Wildner, Roman Allert, Frank Louwen, Christine Solbach, Juping Yuan
Summary: This study reveals how obesity affects the phenotype of breast adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (bASCs) and highlights the molecular changes inside breast cancer cells upon cell-cell interaction with these cancer-educated bASCs. These findings provide a new intervention strategy for breast cancer patients.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Maximilian Fleischmann, Ranadip Mandal, Izabela Kostova, Monika Raab, Mourad Sanhaji, Stephanie Hehlgans, Markus Diefenhardt, Claus Roedel, Emmanouil Fokas, Klaus Strebhardt, Franz Roedel
Summary: Elevated levels of caspase-8 and CDK9 are associated with improved outcomes in cervical cancer patients treated with primary platinum-based chemoradiation, while higher levels of phosphorylated CDK9 predict worse survival. Biomarker research can help improve treatment strategies for cervical cancer patients.
Correction
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monika Raab, Yves Matthess, Christopher A. Raab, Niklas Gutfreund, Volker Doetsch, Sven Becker, Mourad Sanhaji, Klaus Strebhardt