SET/TAF1 forms a distance-dependent feedback loop with Aurora B and Bub1 as a tension sensor at centromeres

Yuichiro Asai, Rieko Matsumura, Yurina Hasumi, Hiroaki Susumu, Kyosuke Nagata, Yoshinori Watanabe, Yasuhiko Terada*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

During mitosis, spatiotemporal regulation of phosphorylation at the kinetochore is essential for accurate chromosome alignment and proper chromosome segregation. Aurora B kinase phosphorylates kinetochore substrates to correct improper kinetochore-microtubule (KT-MT) attachments, whereas tension across the centromeres inactivates Aurora B kinase, and PP2A phosphatase dephosphorylates the kinetochore proteins to stabilize the attachments. However, the molecular entity of the tension sensing mechanism remains elusive. In a previous report, we showed that centromeric SET/TAF1 on Sgo2 up-regulates Aurora B kinase activity via PP2A inhibition in prometaphase. Here we show that Aurora B and Bub1 at the centromere/kinetochore regulate both kinase activities one another in an inter-kinetochore distance-dependent manner, indicating a positive feedback loop. We further show that the centromeric pool of SET on Sgo2 depends on Bub1 kinase activity, and the centromeric localization of SET decreases in a distance-dependent manner, thereby inactivating Aurora B in metaphase. Consistently, ectopic targeting of SET to the kinetochores during metaphase hyperactivates Aurora B via PP2A inhibition, and thereby rescues the feedback loop. Thus, we propose that SET, Aurora B and Bub1 form a distance-dependent positive feedback loop, which spatiotemporally may act as a tension sensor at centromeres.

Original languageEnglish
Article number15653
JournalScientific reports
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020 Dec 1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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