Polo-like kinase 2-dependent phosphorylation of NPM/B23 on serine 4 triggers centriole duplication

PLoS One. 2010 Mar 24;5(3):e9849. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009849.

Abstract

Duplication of the centrosome is well controlled during faithful cell division while deregulation of this process leads to supernumary centrosomes, chromosome missegregation and aneuploidy, a hallmark of many cancer cells. We previously reported that Polo-like kinase 2 (Plk2) is activated near the G1/S phase transition, and regulates the reproduction of centrosomes. In search for Plk2 interacting proteins we have identified NPM/B23 (Nucleophosmin) as a novel Plk2 binding partner. We find that Plk2 and NPM/B23 interact in vitro in a Polo-box dependent manner. An association between both proteins was also observed in vivo. Moreover, we show that Plk2 phosphorylates NPM/B23 on serine 4 in vivo in S-phase. Notably, expression of a non-phosphorylatable NPM/B23 S4A mutant interferes with centriole reduplication in S-phase arrested cells and leads to a dilution of centriole numbers in unperturbed U2OS cells. The corresponding phospho-mimicking mutants have the opposite effect and their expression leads to the accumulation of centrioles. These findings suggest that NPM/B23 is a direct target of Plk2 in the regulation of centriole duplication and that phosphorylation on serine 4 can trigger this process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Centrioles / genetics*
  • Centrosome / ultrastructure
  • Gene Duplication
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / chemistry
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nucleophosmin
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • Serine / chemistry

Substances

  • NPM1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Nucleophosmin
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Serine
  • PLK2 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases