Publications [#322990] of Sally A. Kornbluth
search PubMed.Papers Published
- Kurokawa, M; Kornbluth, S, Stalling in mitosis and releasing the apoptotic brake.,
The EMBO journal, vol. 29 no. 14
(July, 2010),
pp. 2255-2257 [doi] .
(last updated on 2024/08/25)Abstract:
Microtubule poisons induce mitotic arrest that leads to apoptotic cell death if not resolved in a timely manner, but the mechanisms that directly link this cell cycle arrest to apoptosis have been elusive. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Clarke and colleagues show thatMcl-1, an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein, is phosphorylated by the mitotic kinase CDK1/cyclin B1. This targets the protein for degradation by anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C)-mediated ubiquitination, in a manner such that only prolonged arrest allows sufficient Mcl-1 phosphorylation and degradation to trigger apoptosis. Thus, the APC/C, a major effector of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), not only ensures cell cycle arrest upon spindle disruption, but promotes cell death when the duration of mitotic arrest is too long. © 2010 European Molecular Biology Organization - All Rights Reserved.