Article abstract
Nature Cell Biology 1, 486 - 492 (1999)
Published online: 2 November 1999 | doi:10.1038/70272
CUL-2 is required for the G1-to-S-phase transition and mitotic chromosome condensation in Caenorhabditis elegans
Hui Feng1,2, Weiwei Zhong1,2, George Punkosdy1, Subin Gu1, Liang Zhou1, Erin K. Seabolt1 & Edward T. Kipreos1
Abstract
The human cullin protein CUL-2 functions in a ubiquitin-ligase complex with the von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) tumour suppressor protein. Here we show that, in Caenorhabditis elegans, cul-2 is expressed in proliferating cells and is required at two distinct points in the cell cycle, the G1-to-S-phase transition and mitosis. cul-2 mutant germ cells undergo a G1-phase arrest that correlates with accumulation of CKI-1, a member of the CIP/KIP family of cyclin-dependent-kinase inhibitors. In cul-2 mutant embryos, mitotic chromosomes are unable to condense, leading to unequal DNA segregation, chromosome bridging and the formation of multiple nuclei.
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
Correspondence to: Edward T. Kipreos1 e-mail: ekipreos@cb.uga.edu
