Calmodulin activation of polo-like kinase 1 is required during mitotic entry

Biochem Cell Biol. 2013 Oct;91(5):287-94. doi: 10.1139/bcb-2013-0015. Epub 2013 Apr 29.

Abstract

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is a conserved key regulator of the G2/M transition, but its upstream spatiotemporal regulators remain unknown. With the help of immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitation, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay, we found that calmodulin (CaM) is one such regulatory molecule that associates with Plk1 from G2 to metaphase. More importantly, this interaction results in considerable stimulation of Plk1 kinase activity leading to hyperphosphorylation of Cdc25C. Our results provide new insight into the role of CaM as an upstream regulator of Plk1 activation during mitotic entry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calmodulin / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Division / genetics*
  • Cell Line
  • Centrosome / metabolism
  • Enzyme Activation
  • G2 Phase
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mitosis
  • Phosphorylation
  • Polo-Like Kinase 1
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • cdc25 Phosphatases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Calmodulin
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • CDC25C protein, human
  • cdc25 Phosphatases