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Plus end-specific depolymerase activity of Kip3, a kinesin-8 protein, explains its role in positioning the yeast mitotic spindle

Nature Cell Biology volume 8, pages 913–923 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The budding yeast protein Kip3p is a member of the conserved kinesin-8 family of microtubule motors, which are required for microtubule–cortical interactions, normal spindle assembly and kinetochore dynamics. Here, we demonstrate that Kip3p is both a plus end-directed motor and a plus end-specific depolymerase — a unique combination of activities not found in other kinesins. The ATPase activity of Kip3p was activated by both microtubules and unpolymerized tubulin. Furthermore, Kip3p in the ATP-bound state formed a complex with unpolymerized tubulin. Thus, motile kinesin-8s may depolymerize microtubules by a mechanism that is similar to that used by non-motile kinesin-13 proteins. Fluorescent speckle analysis established that, in vivo, Kip3p moved toward and accumulated on the plus ends of growing microtubules, suggesting that motor activity brings Kip3p to its site of action. Globally, and more dramatically on cortical contact, Kip3p promoted catastrophes and pausing, and inhibited microtubule growth. These findings explain the role of Kip3p in positioning the mitotic spindle in budding yeast and potentially other processes controlled by kinesin-8 family members.

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Figure 1: Kip3p is a motor protein exhibiting plus-end tracking behaviour.
Figure 2: Kip3p is a plus end-directed motor.
Figure 3: Plus end-specific depolymerase activity of Kip3p.
Figure 4: Kip3p has tubulin dimer-activated ATPase activity and forms a nucleotide-dependent complex with tubulin dimers.
Figure 5: Normal microtubule orientation and capture–shrinkage in G1–S kip3Δ cells.
Figure 6: Kip3p is required to position mitotic spindles as it is a critical regulator of the length of cortically attached microtubules.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to K. Bloom, J. Huff, A. Murray, R. Ohi and A. Straight for providing reagents. We thank S. Gilbert, T. Mitchison, H. Sosa and members of the Pellman lab for discussion, and S. Buttery, N. Chandhok, S. Gilbert, M. Guillet and S. Yoshida for comments on the manuscript. M. Gupta was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the American Cancer Society (ACS; PF-05-025-01-CCG). D. Pellman was supported by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant (GM R0161345).

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  1. David M. Roof

    Present address: Cytokinetics, Inc., 280 East Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA

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  1. Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, MA, USA

    Mohan L. Gupta Jr., Pedro Carvalho & David Pellman

  2. Department of Animal Biology, Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, 19104–6046, PA, USA

    David M. Roof

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Gupta, M., Carvalho, P., Roof, D. et al. Plus end-specific depolymerase activity of Kip3, a kinesin-8 protein, explains its role in positioning the yeast mitotic spindle. Nat Cell Biol 8, 913–923 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1457

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