Role of phosphorylation of Cdc20 in the regulation of the action of APC/C in mitosis.

The ubiquitin ligase APC/C (anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome) is essential for the control of mitosis, and its activity is subject to tight regulation. In early mitosis, APC/C is inhibited by the mitotic checkpoint system, but subsequently it regains activity and promotes metaphase-anaphase transition by targeting cyclin B and securin for degradation. The phosphorylation of APC/C by the mitotic protein kinase Cdk1-cyclin B facilitates its interaction with its coactivator Cdc20, while the phosphorylation of Cdc20 inhibits its binding to APC/C. This raises the question of how Cdc20 binds to APC/C under conditions of high Cdk1 activity. It seemed possible that the opposing action of protein phosphatases produces a fraction of unphosphorylated Cdc20 that binds to APC/C. We found, however, that while inhibitors of protein phosphatases PP2A and PP1 increased the overall phosphorylation of Cdc20 in anaphase extracts from Xenopus eggs, they did not decrease the levels of Cdc20 bound to APC/C. Searching for alternative mechanisms, we found that following the binding of Cdc20 to APC/C, it became significantly protected against phosphorylation by Cdk1. Protection was mainly at threonine sites at the N-terminal region of Cdc20, known to affect its interaction with APC/C. A model is proposed according to which a pool of unphosphorylated Cdc20, originating from initial stages of mitosis or from phosphatase action, combines with phosphorylated APC/C and thus becomes stabilized against further phosphorylation, possibly by steric hindrance of Cdk1 action. This pool of APCCdc20 appears to be required for the regulation of APC/C activity at different stages of mitosis.

Role of Polo-like kinase 1 in the regulation of the action of p31comet in the disassembly of mitotic checkpoint complexes.

The Mad2-binding protein p31comet has important roles in the inactivation of the mitotic checkpoint system, which delays anaphase until chromosomes attach correctly to the mitotic spindle. The activation of the checkpoint promotes the assembly of a Mitotic Checkpoint Complex (MCC), which inhibits the action of the ubiquitin ligase APC/C (Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome) to degrade inhibitors of anaphase initiation. The inactivation of the mitotic checkpoint requires the disassembly of MCC. p31comet promotes the disassembly of mitotic checkpoint complexes by liberating their Mad2 component in a joint action with the ATPase TRIP13. Here, we investigated the regulation of p31comet action. The release of Mad2 from checkpoint complexes in extracts from nocodazole-arrested HeLa cells was inhibited by Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), as suggested by the effects of selective inhibitors of Plk1. Purified Plk1 bound to p31comet and phosphorylated it, resulting in the suppression of its activity (with TRIP13) to disassemble checkpoint complexes. Plk1 phosphorylated p31comet on S102, as suggested by the prevention of the phosphorylation of this residue in checkpoint extracts by the selective Plk1 inhibitor BI-2536 and by the phosphorylation of S102 with purified Plk1. An S102A mutant of p31comet had a greatly decreased sensitivity to inhibition by Plk1 of its action to disassemble mitotic checkpoint complexes. We propose that the phosphorylation of p31comet by Plk1 prevents a futile cycle of MCC assembly and disassembly during the active mitotic checkpoint.

Role of ubiquitylation of components of mitotic checkpoint complex in their dissociation from anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome.

The mitotic checkpoint system ensures the fidelity of chromosome segregation in mitosis by preventing premature initiation of anaphase until correct bipolar attachment of chromosomes to the mitotic spindle is reached. It promotes the assembly of a mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC), composed of BubR1, Bub3, Cdc20, and Mad2, which inhibits the activity of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) ubiquitin ligase. When the checkpoint is satisfied, anaphase is initiated by the disassembly of MCC. Previous studies indicated that the dissociation of APC/C-bound MCC requires ubiquitylation and suggested that the target of ubiquitylation is the Cdc20 component of MCC. However, it remained unknown how ubiquitylation causes the release of MCC from APC/C and its disassembly and whether ubiquitylation of additional proteins is involved in this process. We find that ubiquitylation causes the dissociation of BubR1 from Cdc20 in MCC and suggest that this may lead to the release of MCC components from APC/C. BubR1 in MCC is ubiquitylated by APC/C, although to a lesser degree than Cdc20. The extent of BubR1 ubiquitylation was markedly increased in recombinant MCC that contained a lysine-less mutant of Cdc20. Mutation of lysine residues to arginines in the N-terminal region of BubR1 partially inhibited its ubiquitylation and slowed down the release of MCC from APC/C, provided that Cdc20 ubiquitylation was also blocked. It is suggested that ubiquitylation of both Cdc20 and BubR1 may be involved in their dissociation from each other and in the release of MCC components from APC/C.

Role of CCT chaperonin in the disassembly of mitotic checkpoint complexes.

The mitotic checkpoint system prevents premature separation of sister chromatids in mitosis and thus ensures the fidelity of chromosome segregation. When this checkpoint is active, a mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC), composed of the checkpoint proteins Mad2, BubR1, Bub3, and Cdc20, is assembled. MCC inhibits the ubiquitin ligase anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), whose action is necessary for anaphase initiation. When the checkpoint signal is turned off, MCC is disassembled, a process required for exit from checkpoint-arrested state. Different moieties of MCC are disassembled by different ATP-requiring processes. Previous work showed that Mad2 is released from MCC by the joint action of the TRIP13 AAA-ATPase and the Mad2-binding protein p31comet Now we have isolated from extracts of HeLa cells an ATP-dependent factor that releases Cdc20 from MCC and identified it as chaperonin containing TCP1 or TCP1-Ring complex (CCT/TRiC chaperonin), a complex known to function in protein folding. Bacterially expressed CCT5 chaperonin subunits, which form biologically active homooligomers [Sergeeva, et al. (2013) J Biol Chem 288(24):17734-17744], also promote the disassembly of MCC. CCT chaperonin further binds and disassembles subcomplexes of MCC that lack Mad2. Thus, the combined action of CCT chaperonin with that of TRIP13 ATPase promotes the complete disassembly of MCC, necessary for the inactivation of the mitotic checkpoint.

Roles of different pools of the mitotic checkpoint complex and the mechanisms of their disassembly.

The mitotic (or spindle assembly) checkpoint system prevents premature separation of sister chromatids in mitosis. When the checkpoint is turned on, the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC) inhibits the ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C). MCC is composed of the checkpoint proteins BubR1, Bub3, and Mad2 associated with the APC/C activator Cdc20. The mechanisms of the assembly of MCC when the checkpoint is turned on, and of its disassembly when the checkpoint is inactivated, are not sufficiently understood. Previous reports indicated that APC/C-mediated polyubiquitylation of Cdc20 in MCC is required for the dissociation of APC/C-associated MCC, but not of free MCC. The pool of free MCC is disassembled by an ATP-dependent process stimulated by the Mad2-binding protein p31(comet). It remained unknown whether free MCC is the precursor or the dissociation product of APC/C-bound MCC. By characterizing the mechanisms of the disassembly of APC/C-bound MCC in a purified system, we find that it cannot be the source of free MCC, because it is bound at high affinity and is released only in ubiquitylated or partially disassembled forms. By the use of a cell-free system from Xenopus eggs that reproduces the mitotic checkpoint, we show that MCC can be assembled in the absence of APC/C in a checkpoint-dependent manner. We propose that when the checkpoint is turned on, free MCC is the precursor of APC/C-bound MCC. When the mitotic checkpoint is extinguished, both APC/C-bound and free MCC pools have to be disassembled to release APC/C from inhibition.

p31comet Promotes disassembly of the mitotic checkpoint complex in an ATP-dependent process.

Accurate segregation of chromosomes in mitosis is ensured by a surveillance mechanism called the mitotic (or spindle assembly) checkpoint. It prevents sister chromatid separation until all chromosomes are correctly attached to the mitotic spindle through their kinetochores. The checkpoint acts by inhibiting the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), a ubiquitin ligase that targets for degradation securin, an inhibitor of anaphase initiation. The activity of APC/C is inhibited by a mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC), composed of the APC/C activator Cdc20 bound to the checkpoint proteins MAD2, BubR1, and Bub3. When all kinetochores acquire bipolar attachment the checkpoint is inactivated, but the mechanisms of checkpoint inactivation are not understood. We have previously observed that hydrolyzable ATP is required for exit from checkpoint-arrested state. In this investigation we examined the possibility that ATP hydrolysis in exit from checkpoint is linked to the action of the Mad2-binding protein p31(comet) in this process. It is known that p31(comet) prevents the formation of a Mad2 dimer that it thought to be important for turning on the mitotic checkpoint. This explains how p31(comet) blocks the activation of the checkpoint but not how it promotes its inactivation. Using extracts from checkpoint-arrested cells and MCC isolated from such extracts, we now show that p31(comet) causes the disassembly of MCC and that this process requires ß,γ-hydrolyzable ATP. Although p31(comet) binds to Mad2, it promotes the dissociation of Cdc20 from BubR1 in MCC.

ATP is required for the release of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome from inhibition by the mitotic checkpoint.

The mitotic (or spindle assembly) checkpoint system ensures accurate segregation of chromosomes by delaying anaphase until all chromosomes are correctly attached to the mitotic spindle. This system acts by inhibiting the activity of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) ubiquitin ligase to target securin for degradation. APC/C is inhibited by a mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC) composed of BubR1, Bub3, Mad2, and Cdc20. The molecular mechanisms of the inactivation of the mitotic checkpoint, including the release of APC/C from inhibition, remain obscure. It has been reported that polyubiquitylation by the APC/C is required for the inactivation of the mitotic checkpoint [Reddy SK, Rape M, Margansky WA, Kirschner MW (2007) Nature, 446:921-924]. We confirmed the involvement of polyubiquitylation, but found that another process, which requires ATP cleavage at the beta-gamma position (as opposed to alpha-beta bond scission involved in ubiquitylation), is essential for the release of APC/C from checkpoint inhibition. ATP (beta-gamma) cleavage is required both for the dissociation of MCC components from APC/C and for the disassembly of free MCC, whereas polyubiquitylation is involved only in the former process. We find that the requirement for ATP (beta-gamma) cleavage is not due to the involvement of the 26S proteasome and that the phenomena observed are not due to sustained activity of protein kinase Cdk1/cyclin B, caused by inhibition of the degradation of cyclin B. Thus, some other energy-consuming process is needed for the inactivation of the mitotic checkpoint.

Two different mitotic checkpoint inhibitors of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome antagonize the action of the activator Cdc20.

The mitotic checkpoint system ensures the fidelity of chromosome segregation by preventing the completion of mitosis in the presence of any misaligned chromosome. When activated, it blocks the initiation of anaphase by inhibiting the ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C). Little is known about the biochemical mechanisms by which this system inhibits APC/C, except for the existence of a mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC) inhibitor of APC/C composed of the APC/C activator Cdc20 associated with the checkpoint proteins Mad2, BubR1, and Bub3. We have been studying the mechanisms of the mitotic checkpoint system in extracts that reproduce its downstream events. We found that inhibitory factors are associated with APC/C in the checkpoint-arrested state, which can be recovered from immunoprecipitates. Only a part of the inhibitory activity was caused by MCC [Braunstein I, Miniowitz S, Moshe Y, Hershko A (2007) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:4870-4875]. Here, we show that during exit from checkpoint, rapid disassembly of MCC takes place while APC/C is still inactive. This observation suggested the possible involvement of multiple factors in the regulation of APC/C by the mitotic checkpoint. We have separated a previously unknown inhibitor of APC/C from MCC. This inhibitor, called mitotic checkpoint factor 2 (MCF2), is associated with APC/C only in the checkpoint-arrested state. The inhibition of APC/C by both MCF2 and MCC was decreased at high concentrations of Cdc20. We propose that both MCF2 and MCC inhibit APC/C by antagonizing Cdc20, possibly by interaction with the Cdc20-binding site of APC/C.