Mcp5, a meiotic cell cortex protein, is required for nuclear movement mediated by dynein and microtubules in fission yeast

J Cell Biol. 2006 Apr 10;173(1):27-33. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200512129. Epub 2006 Apr 3.

Abstract

During meiotic prophase I of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, oscillatory nuclear movement occurs. This promotes homologous chromosome pairing and recombination and involves cortical dynein, which plays a pivotal role by generating a pulling force with the help of an unknown dynein anchor. We show that Mcp5, the homologue of the budding yeast dynein anchor Num1, may be this putative dynein anchor. mcp5+ is predominantly expressed during meiotic prophase, and GFP-Mcp5 localizes at the cell cortex. Moreover, the mcp5Delta strain lacks the oscillatory nuclear movement. Accordingly, homologous pairing and recombination rates of the mcp5Delta strain are significantly reduced. Furthermore, the cortical localization of dynein heavy chain 1 appears to be reduced in mcp5Delta cells. Finally, the full function of Mcp5 requires its coiled-coil and pleckstrin homology (PH) domains. Our results suggest that Mcp5 localizes at the cell cortex through its PH domain and functions as a dynein anchor, thereby facilitating nuclear oscillation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Clocks / physiology
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Cytokinesis / physiology
  • Cytoplasm / genetics
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Dyneins / genetics
  • Dyneins / metabolism*
  • Meiosis / physiology*
  • Microtubules / genetics
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / physiology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Schizosaccharomyces / genetics*
  • Schizosaccharomyces / metabolism*
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / chemistry
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Mcp5 protein, S pombe
  • NUM1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
  • Dyneins