Treatment of Vicia faba root tip cells with specific inhibitors to cyclin-dependent kinases leads to abnormal spindle formation
Language English Country England, Great Britain Media print
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- MeSH
- Spindle Apparatus drug effects MeSH
- Cell Cycle drug effects MeSH
- Cyclin A genetics MeSH
- Cyclin B genetics MeSH
- Fabaceae cytology MeSH
- Transcription, Genetic MeSH
- Enzyme Inhibitors pharmacology MeSH
- Plant Roots cytology drug effects ultrastructure MeSH
- Plants, Medicinal * MeSH
- Meristem cytology drug effects ultrastructure MeSH
- Microtubules drug effects ultrastructure MeSH
- CDC2 Protein Kinase antagonists & inhibitors genetics MeSH
- Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases metabolism MeSH
- Protein Kinases metabolism MeSH
- Purines pharmacology MeSH
- Roscovitine MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- bohemine MeSH Browser
- Cyclin A MeSH
- Cyclin B MeSH
- Enzyme Inhibitors MeSH
- CDC2 Protein Kinase MeSH
- Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases MeSH
- Protein Kinases MeSH
- Purines MeSH
- Roscovitine MeSH
Many events during cell division are triggered by an evolutionary conserved regulator, the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk). Here we used two novel drugs, the purine analogues bohemine and roscovitine, to study the role of Cdks in cell cycle progression and microtubule organisation in Vicia faba root tip cells. Both drugs inhibited the activity of immunopurified Vicia faba and alfalfa Cdc2-kinase. The transcript levels of an A- and B-type cyclin, as well as of the cdc2 genes, declined in treated root tips, while the mRNA level of a D-type cyclin gene was not affected. An observed transient arrest at the G1/S and G2/M regulatory points indicated that inhibition of the Cdc2-kinase had an effect on both transitions. In contrast to the regular bipolar spindle in untreated cell, in drug-treated metaphase cells abnormally short and dense kinetochore microtubule fibres were observed. These microtubules were randomly arranged in the vicinity of the kinetochores and connected the chromosomes. Thus, the chromosomes were not aligned on the metaphase plate but were arranged in a circle, with kinetochores pointing inwards and chromosome arms pointing outwards. gamma-Tubulin, which plays a role in microtubule nucleation, also localised to the centre of the monopolar spindle. The observed abnormalities in mitosis, after inhibition of Cdc2-kinase by specific drugs, suggest a role for this enzyme in regulating some of the steps leading to a bipolar spindle structure.
References provided by Crossref.org
Regulation of microtubule nucleation mediated by γ-tubulin complexes
Plant gamma-tubulin interacts with alphabeta-tubulin dimers and forms membrane-associated complexes
Nuclear gamma-tubulin during acentriolar plant mitosis
Flow karyotyping and sorting of mitotic chromosomes of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
