Disassembly of actin and keratin networks by Aurora B kinase at the midplane of cleaving Xenopus laevis eggs

Abstract

We investigated how bulk cytoplasm prepares for cytokinesis in Xenopus laevis eggs, which are large, rapidly dividing cells. The egg midplane is demarcated by Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC) localized on microtubule bundles between asters. Using an extract system and intact eggs we found that local kinase activity of the AURKB subunit of the CPC caused disassembly of F-actin and keratin between asters, and local softening of the cytoplasm as assayed by flow patterns. Beads coated with active CPC mimicked aster boundaries and caused AURKB-dependent disassembly of F-actin and keratin that propagated ~40 m without microtubules, and much farther with microtubules present, due to CPC auto-activation. We propose that active CPC at aster boundaries locally reduces cytoplasmic stiffness by disassembling actin and keratin networks. This may help sister centrosomes move apart after mitosis, prepare a soft path for furrow ingression and/or release G-actin to build the furrow cortex.