Chromosomal passenger complex condensates generate parallel microtubule bundles in vitro.

The mitotic spindle contains many bundles of microtubules (MTs) including midzones and kinetochore fibers, but little is known about how bundled structures are formed. Here, we show that the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) purified from Escherichia coli undergoes liquid-liquid demixing in vitro. An emergent property of the resultant condensates is to generate parallel MT bundles when incubated with free tubulin and GTP in vitro.

Desmoplakin Harnesses Rho GTPase and p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling to Coordinate Cellular Migration.

Desmoplakin (DP) is an obligate component of desmosomal cell-cell junctions that links the adhesion plaque to the cytoskeletal intermediate filament network. While a central role for DP in maintaining the structure and stability of the desmosome is well established, recent work has indicated that DP's functions may extend beyond cell-cell adhesion. In our study, we show that loss of DP results in a significant increase in cellular migration, as measured by scratch wound assays, Transwell migration assays, and invasion assays.