NuMA regulates mitotic spindle assembly, structural dynamics and function via phase separation

Mengjie Sun, Mingkang Jia, He Ren, Biying Yang, Wangfei Chi, Guangwei Xin, Qing Jiang and Chuanmao Zhang ()
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Mengjie Sun: College of Life Sciences, Peking University
Mingkang Jia: College of Life Sciences, Peking University
He Ren: College of Life Sciences, Peking University
Biying Yang: College of Life Sciences, Peking University
Wangfei Chi: College of Life Sciences, Peking University
Guangwei Xin: College of Life Sciences, Peking University
Qing Jiang: College of Life Sciences, Peking University
Chuanmao Zhang: College of Life Sciences, Peking University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract A functional mitotic spindle is essential for accurate chromosome congression and segregation during cell proliferation; however, the underlying mechanisms of its assembly remain unclear. Here we show that NuMA regulates this assembly process via phase separation regulated by Aurora A. NuMA undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation during mitotic entry and KifC1 facilitates NuMA condensates concentrating on spindle poles. Phase separation of NuMA is mediated by its C-terminus, whereas its dynein-dynactin binding motif also facilitates this process. Phase-separated NuMA droplets concentrate tubulins, bind microtubules, and enrich crucial regulators, including Kif2A, at the spindle poles, which then depolymerizes spindle microtubules and promotes poleward spindle microtubule flux for spindle assembly and structural dynamics. In this work, we show that NuMA orchestrates mitotic spindle assembly, structural dynamics and function via liquid-liquid phase separation regulated by Aurora A phosphorylation.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27528-6

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