Cyc17, a meiosis-specific cyclin, is essential for anaphase initiation and chromosome segregation in Tetrahymena thermophila

Guan-Xiong Yan, Huai Dang, Miao Tian, Jing Zhang, Anura Shodhan, Ying-Zhi Ning, Jie Xiong, Wei Miao

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Although the role of cyclins in controlling nuclear division is well established, their function in ciliate meiosis remains unknown. In ciliates, the cyclin family has undergone massive expansion which suggests that diverse cell cycle systems exist, and this warrants further investigation. A screen for cyclins in the model ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila showed that there are 34 cyclins in this organism. Only 1 cyclin, Cyc17, contains the complete cyclin core and is specifically expressed during meiosis. Deletion of CYC17 led to meiotic arrest at the diakinesis-like metaphase I stage. Expression of genes involved in DNA metabolism and chromosome organization (chromatin remodeling and basic chromosomal structure) was repressed in cyc17 knockout matings. Further investigation suggested that Cyc17 is involved in regulating spindle pole attachment, and is thus essential for chromosome segregation at meiosis. These findings suggest a simple model in which chromosome segregation is influenced by Cyc17.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1855-1864
Number of pages10
JournalCell Cycle
Volume15
Issue number14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 106023 Molecular biology

Keywords

  • anaphase initiation
  • cyclin
  • chromosome segregation
  • meiosis
  • Tetrahymena thermophila
  • SPINDLE ASSEMBLY CHECKPOINT
  • GENOME-WIDE ANALYSIS
  • BUDDING YEAST
  • SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE
  • INTERACTIVE TREE
  • GENE ONTOLOGY
  • AURORA-B
  • RNA-SEQ
  • EXPRESSION
  • PROTEIN

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