Regulation of a Spindle Positioning Factor at Kinetochores by SUMO-Targeted Ubiquitin Ligases.

Correct function of the mitotic spindle requires balanced interplay of kinetochore and astral microtubules that mediate chromosome segregation and spindle positioning, respectively. Errors therein can cause severe defects ranging from aneuploidy to developmental disorders. Here, we describe a protein degradation pathway that functionally links astral microtubules to kinetochores via regulation of a microtubule-associated factor.

Marburg virus inclusions: A virus-induced microcompartment and interface to multivesicular bodies and the late endosomal compartment.

Filovirus infection of target cells leads to the formation of virally induced cytoplasmic inclusions that contain viral nucleocapsids at different stages of maturation. While the role of the inclusions has been unclear since the identification of Marburg and Ebola viruses, it recently became clear that the inclusions are the sites of viral replication, nucleocapsid formation and maturation. Live cell imaging analyses revealed that mature nucleocapsids are transported from inclusions to the filopodia, which represent the major budding sites.

Molecular mechanisms in spindle positioning: structures and new concepts.

Coordination of cell cleavage with respect to cell geometry, cell polarity and neighboring tissues is critical for tissue maintenance, malignant transformation and metastasis. The position of the mitotic spindle within the cell determines where cell cleavage occurs. Spindle positioning is often mediated through capture of astral microtubules by motor proteins at the cell cortex.

Ubiquitylation regulates interactions of astral microtubules with the cleavage apparatus.

Background: Correct positioning of the mitotic spindle relative to the cleavage apparatus is crucial for successful mitosis. In budding yeast, the Adenomatous Polyposis Coli-related protein Kar9, yeast EB1, and Myo2, a type V myosin, mediate positioning of the mitotic spindle close to the septin-anchored cleavage apparatus at the bud neck.

Results: We find that Kar9 is ubiquitylated and degraded by the proteasome.

Tsg101 is recruited by a late domain of the nucleocapsid protein to support budding of Marburg virus-like particles.

The nucleoprotein NP of Marburg virus (MARV) is the major component of the viral nucleocapsid, which also consists of the viral proteins VP35, L, and VP30, as well as the viral genome. During virus assembly at the plasma membrane, the nucleocapsids are enwrapped by the major matrix protein VP40 and the viral envelope, which contains the transmembrane glycoprotein GP. Upon recombinant expression, VP40 alone is able to induce the formation and release of virus-like particles (VLPs) that closely resemble the filamentous morphology of MARV particles.

Studies on membrane topology, N-glycosylation and functionality of SARS-CoV membrane protein.

The glycosylated membrane protein M of the severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the main structural component of the virion and mediates assembly and budding of viral particles. The membrane topology of SARS-CoV M and the functional significance of its N-glycosylation are not completely understood as is its interaction with the surface glycoprotein S. Using biochemical and immunofluorescence analyses we found that M consists of a short glycosylated N-terminal ectodomain, three transmembrane segments and a long, immunogenic C-terminal endodomain.