Involvement of the telomeric protein Pin2/TRF1 in the regulation of the mitotic spindle

FEBS Lett. 2002 Mar 13;514(2-3):193-8. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)02363-3.

Abstract

Pin2/TRF1 was independently identified as a telomeric DNA-binding protein (TRF1) that regulates telomere length, and as a protein (Pin2) that can bind the mitotic kinase NIMA and suppress its lethal phenotype. We have previously demonstrated that Pin2/TRF1 levels are cell cycle-regulated and its overexpression induces mitotic arrest and then apoptosis. This Pin2/TRF1 activity can be potentiated by microtubule-disrupting agents, but suppressed by phosphorylation of Pin2/TRF1 by ATM; this negative regulation is critical in mediating for many, but not all, ATM-dependent phenotypes. Interestingly, Pin2/TRF1 specifically localizes to mitotic spindles in mitotic cells and affects the microtubule polymerization in vitro. These results suggest a role of Pin2/TRF1 in mitosis. However, nothing is known about whether Pin2/TRF1 affects the spindle function in mitotic progression. Here we characterized a new Pin2/TRF1-interacting protein, EB1, that was originally identified in our yeast two-hybrid screen. Pin2/TRF1 bound EB1 both in vitro and in vivo and they also co-localize at the mitotic spindle in cells. Furthermore, EB1 inhibits the ability of Pin2/TRF1 to promote microtubule polymerization in vitro. Given that EB1 is a microtubule plus end-binding protein, these results further confirm a specific interaction between Pin2/TRF1 and the mitotic spindle. More importantly, we have shown that inhibition of Pin2/TRF1 in ataxia-telangiectasia cells is able to fully restore their mitotic spindle defect in response to microtubule disruption, demonstrating for the first time a functional involvement of Pin2/TRF1 in mitotic spindle regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia / metabolism
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Line
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / pharmacology
  • Glutathione Transferase / genetics
  • HeLa Cells / cytology
  • HeLa Cells / drug effects
  • HeLa Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / pharmacology
  • Microtubules / chemistry
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Mitosis / drug effects
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Spindle Apparatus / drug effects
  • Spindle Apparatus / metabolism*
  • Telomere / metabolism*
  • Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • EB1 microtubule binding proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • ATM protein, human
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases