Authors:
Dong Zhang, Kyle D. Grode, Shannon F. Stewman, Juan Daniel Diaz-Valencia, Emily Liebling, Uttama Rath, Tania Riera,J oshua D. Currie, Daniel W. Buster, Ana B. Asenjo, Hernando J. Sosa, Jennifer L. Ross, Ao Ma, Stephen L. Rogers, & David J. Sharp
Summary:
Regulation of microtubule dynamics at the cell cortex is important for cell motility, morphogenesis and division. Here we show that the Drosophila katanin Dm-Kat60 functions to generate a dynamic cortical-microtubule interface in interphase cells. Dm-Kat60 concentrates at the cell cortex of S2 Drosophila cells during interphase, where it suppresses the polymerization of microtubule plus-ends, thereby preventing the formation of aberrantly dense cortical arrays. Dm-Kat60 also localizes at the leading edge of migratory D17 Drosophila cells and negatively regulates multiple parameters of their motility. Finally, in vitro, Dm-Kat60 severs and depolymerizes microtubules from their ends. On the basis of these data, we propose that Dm-Kat60 removes tubulin from microtubule lattice or microtubule ends that contact specific cortical sites to prevent stable and/or lateral attachments. The asymmetric distribution of such an activity could help generate regional variations in microtubule behaviours involved in cell migration.
Source:
Nature Cell Biology; 13, 361-369 (03/06/11)