Analysis of Cell Cycle Progression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Using the Budding Index and Tubulin Staining.

The budding index and the morphology of the spindle and the nucleus are excellent markers for the analysis of the progression through the different stages of the cell cycle in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we describe a protocol to evaluate the budding index in this model organism using phase contrast microscopy. We also describe an indirect immunofluorescence method designed for the visualization of microtubules and the nucleus in S. cerevisiae. Finally, we explain how both methodologies can be used in order to analyze cell cycle progression in the budding yeast.

Dispensability of the SAC Depends on the Time Window Required by Aurora B to Ensure Chromosome Biorientation.

Aurora B and the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) collaborate to ensure the proper biorientation of chromosomes during mitosis. However, lack of Aurora B activity and inactivation of the SAC have a very different impact on chromosome segregation. This is most evident in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, since in this organism the lack of Aurora B is lethal and leads to severe aneuploidy problems, while the SAC is dispensable under normal growth conditions and mutants in this checkpoint do not show evident chromosome segregation defects. We demonstrate that the efficient repair of incorrect chromosome attachments by Aurora B during the initial stages of spindle assembly in budding yeast determines the lack of chromosome segregation defects in SAC mutants, and propose that the differential time window that Aurora B kinase requires to establish chromosome biorientation is the key factor that determines why some cells are more dependent on a functional SAC than others.

Increased Aurora B activity causes continuous disruption of kinetochore-microtubule attachments and spindle instability.

Aurora B kinase regulates the proper biorientation of sister chromatids during mitosis. Lack of Aurora B kinase function results in the inability to correct erroneous kinetochore-microtubule attachments and gives rise to aneuploidy. Interestingly, increased Aurora B activity also leads to problems with chromosome segregation, and overexpression of this kinase has been observed in various types of cancer. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which an increase in Aurora B kinase activity can impair mitotic progression and cell viability. Here, using a yeast model, we demonstrate that increased Aurora B activity as a result of the overexpression of the Aurora B and inner centromere protein homologs triggers defects in chromosome segregation by promoting the continuous disruption of chromosome-microtubule attachments even when sister chromatids are correctly bioriented. This disruption leads to a constitutive activation of the spindle-assembly checkpoint, which therefore causes a lack of cytokinesis even though spindle elongation and chromosome segregation take place. Finally, we demonstrate that this increase in Aurora B activity causes premature collapse of the mitotic spindle by promoting instability of the spindle midzone.