An evolutionary perspective on the relationship between kinetochore size and CENP-E dependence for chromosome alignment

Ana C. Almeida, Helder Rocha, Maximilian W.D. Raas, Hanh Witte, Ralf J. Sommer, Berend Snel, Geert J.P.L. Kops*, Reto Gassmann*, Helder Maiato*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Chromosome alignment during mitosis can occur as a consequence of bi-orientation or is assisted by the CENP-E (kinesin-7) motor at kinetochores. We previously found that Indian muntjac chromosomes with larger kinetochores bi-orient more efficiently and are biased to align in a CENP-E-independent manner, suggesting that CENP-E dependence for chromosome alignment negatively correlates with kinetochore size. Here, we used targeted phylogenetic profiling of CENP-E in monocentric (localized centromeres) and holocentric (centromeres spanning the entire chromosome length) clades to test this hypothesis at an evolutionary scale. We found that, despite being present in common ancestors, CENP-E was lost more frequently in taxa with holocentric chromosomes, such as Hemiptera and Nematoda. Functional experiments in two nematodes with holocentric chromosomes in which a CENP-E ortholog is absent (Caenorhabditis elegans) or present (Pristionchus pacificus) revealed that targeted expression of human CENP-E to C. elegans kinetochores partially rescued chromosome alignment defects associated with attenuated polar-ejection forces, whereas CENP-E inactivation in P. pacificus had no detrimental effects on mitosis and viability. These data showcase the dispensability of CENP-E for mitotic chromosome alignment in species with larger kinetochores.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberjcs263466
JournalJournal of Cell Science
Volume137
Issue number24
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Company of Biologists Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • CENP-E
  • Chromosome
  • Holocentric
  • Kinesin
  • Kinetochore
  • Mitosis

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