Centromere Dysfunction Compromises Mitotic Spindle Pole Integrity

Abstract

Centromeres and centrosomes are crucial mitotic players. Centromeres are unique chromosomal sites characterized by the presence of the histone H3-variant centromere protein A (CENP-A) [1]. CENP-A recruits the majority of centromere components, collectively named the constitutive centromere associated network (CCAN) [2]. The CCAN is necessary for kinetochore assembly, a multiprotein complex that attaches spindle microtubules (MTs) and is required for chromosome segregation [3]. In most animal cells, the dominant site for MT nucleation in mitosis are the centrosomes, which are composed of two centrioles, surrounded by a protein-rich matrix of electron-dense pericentriolar material (PCM) [4]. The PCM is the site of MT nucleation during mitosis [5]. Even if centromeres and centrosomes are connected via MTs in mitosis, it is not known whether defects in either one of the two structures have an impact on the function of the other. Here, using high-resolution microscopy combined with rapid removal of CENP-A in human cells, we found that perturbation of centromere function impacts mitotic spindle pole integrity. This includes release of MT minus-ends from the centrosome, leading to PCM dispersion and centriole mis-positioning at the spindle poles. Mechanistically, we show that these defects result from abnormal spindle MT dynamics due to defective kinetochore-MT attachments. Importantly, restoring mitotic spindle pole integrity following centromere inactivation lead to a decrease in the frequency of chromosome mis-segregation. Overall, our work identifies an unexpected relationship between centromeres and maintenance of the mitotic pole integrity necessary to ensure mitotic accuracy and thus to maintain genetic stability.

Keywords: centromeres; centrosomes; chromosome mis-segregation; microtubule dynamics; mitotic spindle pole integrity.