Abstract
Nando Cervone1,2, Rosa Della Monica1,2, Angela Flavia Serpico1,2, Cinzia Vetrei1,2, Mario Scaraglio1,2, Roberta Visconti3 and Domenico Grieco1,2
1CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy
2DMMBM, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
3IEOS, CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy
Correspondence to:
Domenico Grieco, email: domenico.grieco@unina.it
Keywords: protein phosphatase; PP2A; PP1; spindle assembly checkpoint; SAC
Received: March 29, 2017 Accepted: December 08, 2017 Published: December 16, 2017
ABSTRACT
Progression through mitosis, the cell cycle phase deputed to segregate replicated chromosomes, is granted by a protein phosphorylation wave that follows an activation-inactivation cycle of cyclin B-dependent kinase (Cdk) 1, the major mitosis-promoting enzyme. To ensure correct chromosome segregation, the safeguard mechanism spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) delays Cdk1 inactivation by preventing cyclin B degradation until mitotic spindle assembly. At the end of mitosis, reversal of bulk mitotic protein phosphorylation, downstream Cdk1 inactivation, is required to complete mitosis and crucially relies on the activity of major protein phosphatases like PP2A. A role for PP2A, however, has also been suggested in spindle assembly and SAC-dependent control of Cdk1. Indeed, PP2A was found in complex with SAC proteins while small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)-mediated downregulation of PP2A holoenzyme components affected mitosis completion in mammalian cells. However, whether the SAC-dependent control of Cdk1 required the catalytic activity of PP2A has never been directly assessed. Here, using two PP2A inhibitors, okadaic acid and LB-100, we provide evidence that PP2A activity is dispensable for SAC control of Cdk1 in human cells.