GCP-WD is a gamma-tubulin targeting factor required for centrosomal and chromatin-mediated microtubule nucleation - PubMed (original) (raw)
doi: 10.1038/ncb1349. Epub 2005 Dec 25.
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- PMID: 16378099
- DOI: 10.1038/ncb1349
GCP-WD is a gamma-tubulin targeting factor required for centrosomal and chromatin-mediated microtubule nucleation
Jens Lüders et al. Nat Cell Biol. 2006 Feb.
Abstract
The gamma-tubulin ring complex (gammaTuRC) is a large multi-protein complex that is required for microtubule nucleation from the centrosome. Here, we show that the GCP-WD protein (originally named NEDD1) is the orthologue of the Drosophila Dgrip71WD protein, and is a subunit of the human gammaTuRC. GCP-WD has the properties of an attachment factor for the gammaTuRC: depletion or inhibition of GCP-WD results in loss of the gammaTuRC from the centrosome, abolishing centrosomal microtubule nucleation, although the gammaTuRC is intact and able to bind to microtubules. GCP-WD depletion also blocks mitotic chromatin-mediated microtubule nucleation, resulting in failure of spindle assembly. Mitotic phosphorylation of GCP-WD is required for association of gamma-tubulin with the spindle, separately from association with the centrosome. Our results indicate that GCP-WD broadly mediates targeting of the gammaTuRC to sites of microtubule nucleation and to the mitotic spindle, which is essential for spindle formation.
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