Originally published as Genetics Published Articles Ahead of Print on October 9, 2008.

Genetics, Vol. 180, 2073-2080, December 2008, Copyright © 2008
doi:10.1534/genetics.108.094797

A G2-Phase Microtubule-Damage Response in Fission Yeast

Fernando R. Balestra and Juan Jimenez1

Centro Andaluz de Biologia del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/CSIC, Carretera de Utrera, Km1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain

1 Corresponding author: Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/CSIC, Carretera de Utrera, Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
E-mail: jjimmar{at}upo.es

Microtubules assume a variety of structures throughout the different stages of the cell cycle. Ensuring the correct assembly of such structures is essential to guarantee cell division. During mitosis, it is well established that the spindle assembly checkpoint monitors the correct attachment of sister chromatids to the mitotic spindle. However, the role that microtubule cytoskeleton integrity plays for cell-cycle progression during interphase is uncertain. Here we describe the existence of a mechanism, independent of the mitotic checkpoint, that delays entry into mitosis in response to G2-phase microtubule damage. Disassembly of the G2-phase microtubule array leads to the stabilization of the universal mitotic inhibitor Wee1, thus actively delaying entry into mitosis via inhibitory Cdc2 Tyr15 phosphorylation.


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Genetics 2008 180: NP. [Full Text]