Microtubule and mitosis dynamics

Asymmetric distribution of centromere proteins between germline stem and daughter cells maintains a balanced niche in Drosophila males.

The paper shows that asymmetric distribution of centromere proteins in Drosophila male germline stem cells maintains a balanced niche by influencing self-renewal and differentiation.

The TOG protein Stu2 is regulated by acetylation

This study identifies acetylation of Stu2 in S. cerevisiae as a regulatory mechanism affecting chromosome stability and interactions with gamma-tubulin.

Cytomotive actins and tubulins share a polymerisation switch mechanism conferring robust dynamics

The paper identifies a shared polymerisation switch mechanism in cytomotive actins and tubulins that ensures filament stability and functional dynamics.

NudC regulated Lis1 stability is essential for maintenance of dynamic microtubule ends in the axon terminal

This study identifies NudC's role in regulating Lis1 stability to control microtubule dynamics in axon terminals, showing that NudC loss leads to increased microtubule stability through dynein accumulation.

Length-limitation of astral microtubules orients cell divisions in intestinal crypts

The paper shows that length-limited astral microtubules cause planar spindle orientation in intestinal crypts, independent of polarity and geometry cues.

Molecular mechanism of dynein-dynactin activation by JIP3 and LIS1

This study determines the cryo-EM structure of dynein-dynactin with LIS1 and JIP3, revealing how these regulators enable complex formation and function.

Spindle F-actin coordinates the first metaphase-anaphase transition in Drosophila meiosis

This study shows that spindle F-actin is essential for the metaphase-anaphase transition in Drosophila meiosis, with calcium playing a role in maintaining the microtubule spindle.

Longer metaphase and fewer chromosome segregation errors in modern human than Neandertal brain development

This study introduces modern human-specific amino acid substitutions into mice and human brain organoids, showing improved chromosome segregation fidelity in modern humans compared to Neandertals.

Genetic control of kinetochore-driven microtubule growth in Drosophila mitosis

This study investigates kinetochore-driven microtubule regrowth in Drosophila cells after MT depolymerization, identifying proteins that regulate this process.

Kinetoplastid-specific X2-family kinesins interact with a kinesin-like pleckstrin homology domain protein that localizes to the trypanosomal microtubule quartet

The paper identifies TbKifX2A and TbPH1 as proteins interacting at the trypanosomal microtubule quartet, showing their localization and functional roles in maintaining flagellar pocket structure.

Female meiosis II and pronuclear fusion require Bicaudal-D

This study shows that Bicaudal-D is essential for female meiosis II and pronuclear fusion in Drosophila, by localizing key proteins to the meiosis II spindles.

S. cerevisiae cells can grow without the Pds5 cohesin subunit

This study shows that S. cerevisiae cells can survive without Pds5 if Mcd1 levels are increased and SUMO-PCNA is elevated, revealing Pds5's role in cohesin stability and DNA replication coordination.

Genetic analysis of C. elegans Haspin-like genes shows that hasp-1 plays multiple roles in the germline

The paper characterizes mutations in C. elegans Haspin homologs, showing hasp-1's roles in germline stem cell proliferation, spermatogenesis, and oocyte meiosis, with genetic interactions involving plk-2 and CPC recruitment pathways.

The Centrosomal Swiss Army Knife: A combined in silico and in vivo approach to the structure-function annotation of SPD-2 provides mechanistic insight into its functional diversity.

This study uses computational and in vivo approaches to analyze the structure-function relationships of CeSPD-2, identifying new domains and motifs that may explain its functional diversity.

A synthetic ancestral Kinesin-13 depolymerises microtubules faster than any natural depolymerising kinesin

The paper creates a synthetic ancestral Kinesin-13 motor domain and shows it depolymerises microtubules faster than any known natural depolymerising kinesin.

Re-evaluating the actin-dependence of spectraplakin functions during axon growth and maintenance

This study investigates the role of spectraplkin proteins in axon growth and maintenance, revealing that their function depends on a balanced interaction with F-actin and that they have actin-independent roles in microtubule bundling.

The SUMO activating enzyme subunit, SAE2, contributes SUMO protein bias for mitotic fidelity.

This study shows that SAE2 deacetylation during mitosis biases SUMO2 over SUMO1 conjugation, affecting mitotic fidelity through SUMOylation of NuMA.

Structure of dynein-dynactin on microtubules shows tandem recruitment of cargo adaptors

The paper determines the structure of dynein-dynactin complex with BICDR1 adaptor bound to microtubules, revealing adaptor recruitment mechanism and interactions.

The UBR box E3 ligases Poe and Hyd are required for efficient Pericentrin degradation

This study identifies Poe and Hyd as E3 ligases that promote PLP degradation during spermatogenesis, ensuring proper centriole assembly and male fertility.

Post-Translational Tubulin Modifications in Differentiated Human Neural Stem Cells

The paper analyzes post-translational tubulin modifications in human neural stem cells differentiated into neurons and astrocytes, finding differences in acetylated and polyglutamylated tubulin ratios between cell types.

TOP-2 is differentially required for the proper maintenance of cohesin on meiotic chromosomes in C. elegans spermatogenesis and oogenesis

This study investigates the sex-specific role of Topoisomerase II in sister chromatid cohesion release during meiosis in C. elegans, showing different requirements in spermatogenesis and oogenesis.

Spindle pole body-associated Atg11, an autophagy-related protein, regulates microtubule dynamics essential for high-fidelity chromosome segregation

This study shows Atg11, an autophagy-related protein, regulates microtubule dynamics and chromosome segregation in yeast by affecting spindle pole body function and Kar9-dependent spindle positioning.

Symmetry breaking in the female germline cyst

The paper identifies a molecular mechanism by which Patronin amplifies fusome asymmetry to select the oocyte in the female germline cyst.

Volumetric morphometry reveals mitotic spindle width as the best predictor of spindle scaling

The paper introduces Spindle3D, a tool for analyzing 3D spindle morphology, and finds that spindle width best predicts spindle volume across cell types and species.

Revisiting the role of beta-tubulin in Drosophila development: beta-tubulin60D is not an essential gene, and its novel Pin1 allele has a tissue-specific dominant-negative impact

The paper revisits the role of beta-tubulin60D in Drosophila development, showing it is not essential and identifying a dominant-negative mutation with tissue-specific effects on bristle morphogenesis.

Shaping liposomes by cell-free expressed bacterial microtubules

This paper demonstrates that bacterial microtubules can be expressed in a cell-free system and used to deform lipid vesicles, offering a new tool for synthetic cell biology.

SIN-like pathway kinases regulate the end of mitosis in the methylotrophic yeast Ogataea polymorpha

This study identifies OpHCD1 and OpHCD2 as kinases involved in mitotic exit and cytokinesis in Ogataea polymorpha, suggesting a SIN-like pathway regulates mitosis termination in this yeast.

Mask, the Drosophila Ankyrin Repeat and KH domain-containing protein, regulates microtubule dynamics

This paper identifies Mask as a novel regulator of microtubule dynamics in Drosophila, showing genetic interactions with Tau and Stathmin and a role for its Ankyrin repeats domains.

The human sperm basal body is a complex centrosome important for embryo pre-implantation development

The paper shows that the human sperm basal body converts to a centrosome after fertilization, supporting early embryogenesis and compaction.

RhoA- and Ran-induced antagonistic forces underlie symmetry breaking and spindle rotation in mouse oocytes.

This study identifies RhoA and RanGTP-dependent forces that drive symmetry breaking and spindle rotation in mouse oocytes during meiosis.