Chromatin protein HP1 interacts with the mitotic regulator borealin protein and specifies the centromere localization of the chromosomal passenger complex.

ABSTRACT: Accurate mitosis requires the chromosomal passenger protein complex (CPC) containing Aurora B kinase, borealin, INCENP, and survivin, which orchestrates chromosome dynamics. However, the chromatin factors that specify the CPC to the centromere remain elusive. Here we show that borealin interacts directly with heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) and that this interaction is mediated by an evolutionarily conserved PXVXL motif in the C-terminal borealin with the chromo shadow domain of HP1. This borealin-HP1 interaction recruits the CPC to the centromere and governs an activation of Aurora B kinase judged by phosphorylation of Ser-7 in CENP-A, a substrate of Aurora B. Consistently, modulation of the motif PXVXL leads to defects in CPC centromere targeting and aberrant Aurora B activity. On the other hand, the localization of the CPC in the midzone is independent of the borealin-HP1 interaction, demonstrating the spatial requirement of HP1 in CPC localization to the centromere. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized but direct link between HP1 and CPC localization in the centromere and illustrate the critical role of borealin-HP1 interaction in orchestrating an accurate cell division.

SUBMITTER: Liu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4110276 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature