Le fuseau mitotique assure la ségrégation des chromatides sœurs et le maintien de la poïdie des cellules filles. Le fuseau est composé de microtubules dynamiques (qui polymérisent et dépolymérisent continuellement), de nombreux moteurs moléculaires, d'agents de réticulations et de régulateurs. Bien que la structure du fuseau au niveau moléculaire soit connue, son fonctionnement reste délicat à comprendre, et nécessite la prise en compte de la dynamique de ses composants et leurs interactions. Les approches utilisées pour répondre à ces problématiques sont jusqu'à maintenant plutôt des approches in silico et in vitro. Il manque aujourd'hui une caractérisation de la mécanique du fuseau dans son contexte physiologique. Nous proposons une méthode non invasive basée sur de l'analyse d'image, combiné à une modélisation heuristique pour mesurer les paramètres mécaniques durant toute la division. Nous suivons les pôles du fuseau marqués par protéine fluorescente avec un taux acquisition rapide et une bonne résolution spatiale ce qui nous permet d'accéder aux fluctuations de longueur du fuseau in vivo. Avec la transformée de Fourier aux temps courts, nous calculons leurs densités spectrales de puissances — leurs signatures mécaniques. Ces spectres sont alors ajustés avec un modèle Kelvin — Voigt avec inertie (un ressort, un amortisseur et un terme inertiel en parallèle). Nous avons validé la méthode par des expériences numériques où nous retrouvons les évolutions des paramètres sur des données simulées et la calibration a été réalisée par l'utilisation de la rupture du fuseau induite par micro chirurgie laser ou par la génétique. Nous avons caractérisé le fuseau de l'embryon unicellulaire du nématode C. elegans. La méthaphase apparaît dominée par l'amortisseur, ce qui est cohérent avec la lente élongation du fuseau que nous observons. Mais contraste l'idée répandue de l'existence d'un mécanisme de maintien de la longueur du fuseau durant la métaphase. Au passage en anaphase, les trois paramètres mécaniques chutent, avant de réaugmenter environ 50 secondes après la transition pour réatindre un régime dominé de nouveau par l'amortisseur, ce qui suggère que les microtubules interpolaires jouent un rôle mineur durant l'élongation du fuseau en début d'anaphase. Dans la perspective de comprendre le lien entre la mécanique du fuseau et les interactions des acteurs moléculaires, nous avons partiellement supprimé un gène par sous-structure du fuseau. Nous avons alors retrouvé des comportements connus avec une perspective augmentée offerte par notre méthode. Cette méthode, ne va pas seulement permettre la compréhension fondamentale de la mécanique du fuseau, en remplaçant la modélisation du fuseau basé uniquement sur la longueur, mais aussi d'aller vers la prise en compte de la robustesse de fonctionnement du fuseau mitotique face aux défauts tel que la polyou l'aneuploïdie. / The mitotic spindle ensures the correct segregation of the sister chromatids to maintain ploidy in daughter cells. The spindle comprises dynamical microtubules (alternating polymerizing and depolymerizing), a variety of molecular motors, crosslinker and the regulators. Although the molecular grounds of spindle structure is well known, the link to its functions remain elusive, calling for including the dynamics of its components and their interactions. These questions were mostly investigated by in silico or in vitro approaches. But a detailed characterizing of spindle mechanics, in physiological conditions, is missing. We propose an image processing based, non invasive, method combined to an heuristic model to measure mechanical parameters of the mitotic spindle along time. We tracked fluorescently labeled spindle pole at high temporal and spatial resolution and measured the variations of spindle length, in vivo. We computed their power density spectrum using short time Fourier transform (sliding window) — a blueprint of spindle mechanics. Such a spectrum is then fitted with a Kelvin —Voigt model with inertia (a spring, a damper, an inertial element in parallel). We validated this method by recovering the mechanical parameters over time from simulated data and calibrated it uses laser and genetically induced spinlde cut. We characterized the mitotic spindle of the one-cell embryo of nematode C. elegans. Metaphase appeared dominated by damping element, consistent with the slow spindle elongation observed. But in contrast with the common thought that a mechanism maintains the spindle length during metaphase. At anaphase onset, all three parameters collapsed, before increasing about 50s later to reach a regime where damping dominated again, suggesting the overlapping spinlde microtubules may play a minor role in early anaphase spinlde elongation. In perspective of understanding how spindle mechanics emerge of molecular players interactions, we depleted one gene per splindle sub-structure — overlapped microtubules, kinetochore microtubules, central spindle and astral microtubules. We succefully recovered some known behavior but with the augmented insight offered by our method. This method paves the way not only towards understanding the fundamentals of spindle mechanics, superseding the degenerated modeling based on the sole spindle length but also towards acounting for spindle functional robustness towards defect as polyor aneuploidy.

Aurora A (AurA) is an important mitotic kinase mainly studied for its involvement in cell cycle progression, centrosome maturation, mitotic spindle pole organization and bipolar spindle formation. It localizes to duplicated centrosomes and spindle microtubules (MTs) during mitosis where it regulates various factors participating in metaphase spindle formation. AurA is degraded late in mitosis suggesting that it might also have a function in anaphase. In this study we focused in understanding AurA function during anaphase in two different experimental systems. First, we kept AurA active in cycled Xenopus egg extracts and found that MTs maintained their mitotic organization longer throughout mitotic exit. We also observed chromosome segregation defects and problematic nuclear envelope formation. These observations indicate that AurA activity needs to be down-regulated for the transition from metaphase back to interphase. To get insights into the role of AurA during metaphase-anaphase transition we initially asked whether its kinase activity is still necessary for the maintenance of the metaphase spindle. We saw that the inhibition of AurA kinase activity in metaphase resulted to a collapse of the established metaphase spindle in HeLa cells. Indicating that AurA activity is necessary for the metaphase spindle maintenance. Then, we looked whether AurA kinase activity is still necessary during anaphase. We inhibited AurA at the onset of anaphase in Hela cells and found that anaphase spindles were smaller. We also observed that the MT structure responsible for anaphase spindle elongation, the central spindle, was defectively assembled and organized. Moreover, in cells where AurA was inhibited segregation of chromosomes was defective. These results indicate that AurA kinase activity is necessary for anaphase spindle elongation, central spindle assembly and organization and chromosome segregation. To understand further how AurA regulates anaphase spindle formation we looked known AurA substrates. We depleted TACC3, a known AurA substrate involved in MT formation earlier in mitosis and observed that TACC3 depletion phenocopied AurA inhibition. This indicates that TACC3 has a function in MT organization and chromosome segregation during anaphase and this function could possibly be regulated by AurA. In this study we have demonstrated that AurA activity is essential for metaphase spindle maintenance. We also found that during anaphase when AurA is either maintained active or inhibited MT organization is greatly affected and chromosome segregation is defective. Suggesting that AurA activity needs to be tightly controlled during anaphase for a correct completion of mitosis. / Aurora A (AurA) es una quinasa mitótica importante que se ha estudiado principalmente en su papel durante la progresión del ciclo celular, la maduración del centrosoma, la organización y la formación del polo y del huso mitótico. Durante la mitosis, AurA se localiza en los centrosomas duplicados y en los microtúbulos (MTs) del huso y se ha observado que regula varios factores que participan en la formación del huso mitótico. AurA se degrada al final de la mitosis indicando que pueda tener una función durante la anafase. En este estudio nos hemos centrado en la comprensión de la función de AurA durante la anafase en dos sistemas experimentales diferentes. En primer lugar, utilizando extractos de huevos de Xenopus hemos mantenido AurA activa durante la transición de metafase a anafase y hemos visto que los MTs del huso mitótico mantienen su organización durante más tiempo. También hemos observado que cuando AurA se mantiene activa existen defectos en la segregación cromosómica y la formación de la membrana nuclear. Esto indica que la actividad de AurA tiene un papel regulador sobre los MTs y la chromatina durante la transición de la metafase a la interfase. Para entender cual es la función de AurA durante la transición de metafase a anafase primero hemos estudiado si la actividad de la quinasa es necesaria para el mantenimiento del huso mitótico. Hemos visto que la inhibición de la actividad quinasa AurA resultó en el colapso del huso durante la metafase en células HeLa. Esto indica que la actividad de AurA es necesaria para el mantenimiento del huso mitótico de metafase. A continuación hemos analizamos si la actividad quinasa de AurA sigue siendo necesaria para la anafase. Para ello hemos inhibido AurA en células Hela al inicio de la anafase. En estas condiciones los husos de la anafase son más pequeños y la estructura de los MTs responsable del alargamiento del huso mitótico durante la anafase, el huso central, se organiza defectuosamente. Además, se encontraron errores durante la segregación de los cromosomas. Estos resultados indican que la actividad quinasa de AurA es necesaria para el alargamiento del huso durante la anafase y la organización y segregación cromosómica. Para entender el mecanismo de la función de AurA durante la anafase hemos estudiado a sustratos de AurA. Al estudiar TACC3 , un sustrato conocido de AurA que participa en la formación de MTs en las fase iniciales de la mitosis hemos encontrado que su eliminación de células HeLa produce el mismo fenotipo que la inhibición de AurA. Esto indica que TACC3 tiene una función en la organización de MT y la segregación de cromosomas durante la anafase y que esta función podría estar regulada por la quinasa AurA. En este estudio hemos demostrado que la actividad quinasa de AurA es esencial para el mantenimiento del huso mitótico. También hemos encontrado que durante la anafase cuando la quinasa AurA se mantiene activa o se inhibe la organización de los MTs del huso mitótico se ve muy afectada y los cromosomas se segregan defectuosamente. Por tanto los resultados de este estudio indican que la actividad quinasa de AurA está estrechamente controlada durante la anafase para el correcto cumplimiento de la mitosis.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2008. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

The overall objective of this study was to identify novel proteins of the nuclear matrix in order to contribute to a better understanding of nuclear structure and organization. To accomplish this, a monoclonal antibody specific for the nuclear matrix was used to screen a human λgt11 expression library. Several cDNAs were isolated, cloned, sequenced, and shown to represent NuMA, the nuclear mitotic spindle apparatus protein. Further characterization of the gene and RNA was undertaken in an effort to obtain information about NuMA. The NuMA gene was present at a single site on human chromosome 11q13. Northern and PCR analysis of NuMA mRNA showed a major 7.2 kb transcript and minor forms of 8.0 and 3.0 kb. The minor forms were shown to be alternatively spliced although their functional significance is not yet understood. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that NuMA oscillates between the nucleus and the microtubule spindle apparatus during the mitotic cell cycle. NuMA appeared as a 200-275 kDa protein detectable in all mammalian cells except human neutrophils. To determine whether NuMA's changes in intracellular distribution correlated with post-translational modifications, the protein's phosphorylation state was examined through the cell cycle using highly synchronized cells. NuMA was a phosphoprotein in interphase and underwent additional phosphorylation events in mitosis. The mitotic phosphorylation events occurred with similar timing to lamin B (G2/M transition) and were concomitant with NuMA's release from the nucleus and its association with the mitotic spindle. However, the mitotic phosphorylation occurred in the absence of spindle formation. Dephosphorylation of NuMA did not correlate with reassociation with the nuclear matrix but occurred in two distinct steps after nuclear reformation. Based on the timing of these events, phosphorylation may playa role in nuclear processes. In conclusion, the work in this dissertation identified NuMA, a nuclear matrix protein and showed that it is phosphorylated during the cell cycle and may be important for nuclear events such as nuclear organization, transcription, or initiation of DNA replication at G1/S.

During embryogenesis, a single cell gives rise to a multi-cellular embryo through successive rounds of cell division. As cells become smaller, cellular organelles adapt their sizes accordingly. The size of the mitotic spindle—the microtubule-based structure controlling these divisions—is particularly important as it determines the distance over which chromosomes are segregated. To perform its function properly, spindle size scales with cell size. However, we still lack a mechanistic understanding of the underlying microtubule-based processes that regulate spindle scaling. In this thesis, I combined quantitative microscopy and laser ablation in zebrafish embryos and Xenopus laevis egg extract encapsulated in oil droplets. My measurements revealed the influence of microtubule length dynamics, transport, and nucleation on cell size-dependent spindle scaling. Strikingly, I discovered a hierarchical regulation of spindle size. In large cells, microtubule nucleation exclusively scales spindle size relative to cell size by changing the number of microtubules within the spindle. In small cells, microtubule dynamics fine-tune spindle size by modulating microtubule length. To understand the mechanism of spindle scaling, I proposed a theoretical model based on a limiting number of microtubule nucleators and microtubule-associated proteins that regulate microtubule length. The transition from nucleation- to dynamics-based scaling requires that microtubule number and the number of microtubule-associated proteins that promote microtubule growth scale differently with cell size. This can be achieved by sequestering an inhibitor of microtubule nucleation to the cell membrane, which is consistent with my measurements of microtubule nucleation. The differential regimes of spindle scaling modulated by microtubule nucleation and dynamics imply a gradual change in spindle architecture, which may ensure faithful chromosome segregation by spindles of all sizes.

The proper transmission of genetic materials into progeny cells is crucial for maintenance of genetic integrity in eukaryotes and fundamental for reproduction of organisms. To achieve this goal, chromosomes must be attached to microtubules emanating from opposite poles in a bi-oriented manner at metaphase, and then should be separated equally through proper spindle elongation in anaphase. Failure to do so leads to aneuploidy, which is often associated with cancer. Despite the presence of a safety device called the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) to monitor chromosome bi-orientation, mammalian cells frequently possess merotelic kinetochore orientation, in which a single kinetochore binds microtubules emanating from both poles. Merotelically attached kinetochores escape from the surveillance mechanism of the SAC and when cells proceed to anaphase cause lagging chromosomes, which are a leading cause of aneuploidy in mammalian tissue cultured cells. The fission yeast monopolin complex functions in prevention of mal-orientation of kinetochores including merotelic attachments during mitosis. Despite the known importance of Cdk1 activity during mitosis, it has been unclear how oscillations in Cdk1 activity drive the dramatic changes in chromosome behavior and spindle dynamics that occur at the metaphase/anaphase transition. In two separate studies, we show how dynamic Cdk1 phosphorylation regulates chromosome segregation. First, we demonstrate that sequential phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of monopolin by Cdk1 and Cdc14 phosphatase respectively helps ensure the orderly execution of two discrete steps in mitosis, namely sister kinetochore bi-orientation at metaphase and spindle elongation in anaphase. Second, we show that elevated Cdk1 activity is crucial for correction of merotelic kinetochores produced in monopolin and heterochromatin mutants.

DNA damage induces mitotic exit delays through a process that requires the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), which blocks the metaphase to anaphase transition in the presence of unaligned chromosomes. Using time-lapse confocal microscopy in syncytial Drosophila embryos, we show that DNA damage leads to arrest during prometaphase and anaphase. In addition, functional GFP fusions to the SAC components MAD2 and Mps1, and the SAC target Cdc20 relocalize to kinetochore through anaphase arrest, and a null mad2mutation blocks damage induced prometaphase and anaphase arrest. We also show that the DNA damage signaling kinase Chk2 is required for damage induced metaphase and anaphase arrest, and that a functional GFP-Chk2 fusion localizes to kinetochores and centrosomes through mitosis. In addition, in the absence of Chk2, we find that DNA damage sufficient to fragment centromere DNA does not delay mitotic exit. We conclude that DNA damage signaling through Chk2 triggers Mad2-dependent delays in mitotic progression, both before or after the metaphase-anaphase transition.

Multicellular life is formed by an orchestrated interplay of processes on different scales in space and time. Observing and quantitatively measuring these processes in an intact, living organism requires gentle and adaptive imaging. One example of such a process is the scaling of the mitotic spindle during early development. The spindle segregates the chromosomes during cell division and the spindle length determines the positioning of the chromosomes in the successive daughter cells. Thus, adaptation of spindle size to cell size is crucial for proper functioning. Early development is an excellent phase to study spindle scaling since cells rapidly divide in the absence of growth. In this phase, the spindle can be studied in cells of the same organism changing its volume orders of magnitude. During early zebrafish embryogenesis, the mitotic spindle only appears for three minutes out of the fifteen minutes cell cycle. Quantifying these short-lived events in a living embryo requires flexible and adaptive multi-resolution recordings, which are impossible with any state-of-the-art microscope. In this thesis, I present two new techniques to adaptively image biological samples based on light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM). First, I present a remote, contact-free positioning technique based on magnetic forces to orient the sample in the microscope. When imaging biological samples, there is often only one sample orientation that offers the best view on the region of interest. This preferred orientation typically changes over time as the specimen grows and develops. The contact-free positioning technique allows to always image specimens from the optimal viewing angle. I demonstrate the functionality of this method by 3D orientation of zebrafish embryos and zebrafish larvae. Second, I present a new type of LSFM that autonomously adapts its detection scheme to the sample state. This microscope contains an adaptable magnification module to map the development of the millimeter-sized zebrafish embryo and measure single-molecule dynamics of individual spindles in a single experiment. To automatically adapt the detection scheme, I trained a Convolution Neural Network to detect the cell cycle state of individual cells from acquired fluorescence images. Using this new type of LSFM, I demonstrate autonomous measurements of the mitotic spindle scaling in freely developing zebrafish embryos. / Multizelluläres Leben wird durch ein orchestriertes Zusammenspiel von Prozessen auf verschiedenen Skalen in Raum und Zeit gebildet. Beobachtung und quantitative Messungen dieser Vorgänge in einem intakten, lebenden Organismus erfordern schonende und adaptive Bildgebung. Ein Beispiel für einen solchen Prozess ist die Größenanpassung der mitotischen Spindel während der frühen Entwicklung. Die Spindel trennt die Chromosomen während der Zellteilung und die Spindellänge bestimmt die Positionierung der Chromosomen in den Tochterzellen. Daher ist die Anpassung der Spindelgröße an die Zellgröße entscheidend für die ordnungsgemäße Funktion. Die Phase der frühen Entwicklung eignet sich hervorragend zur Untersuchung der Spindel-Skalierung, da die Zellen sich schnell teilen ohne zu wachsen. Während der frühen Zebrafischembryogenese erscheint die Spindel nur drei Minuten innerhalb des fünfzehnminütigen Zellzyklus. Die Quantifizierung dieser kurzlebigen Ereignisse in einem lebenden Embryo erfordert flexible und anpassungsfähige Aufnahmen mit variabler Auflösung, die mit keinem Mikroskop nach dem aktuellen Stand der Technik möglich sind. In dieser Arbeit präsentiere ich zwei neue Techniken zur adaptiven Abbildung biologischer Proben basierend auf der Lichtblatt-Fluoreszenzmikroskopie (LSFM). Zuerst stelle ich eine berührungslose Positionierungstechnik vor, die auf Magnetkräften basiert, um die Probe im Mikroskop zu orientieren. Bei der Abbildung biologischer Proben gibt es oft nur eine Probenorientierung, welche die beste Sicht auf die Region von Interesse bietet. Diese Vorzugsorientierung ändert sich typischerweise mit der Zeit, wenn die Probe wächst und sich entwickelt. Die Positionierungstechnik ermöglicht es, Proben immer aus dem optimalen Betrachtungswinkel abzubilden. Zweitens stelle ich einen neuen Typ von LSFM vor, der sein Detektionsschema autonom an den Probenzustand anpasst. Dieses Mikroskop enthält ein anpassbares Vergrößerungsmodul, um die Entwicklung des millimetergroßen Zebrafischembryos abzubilden und die Einzelmoleküldynamik einzelner Spindeln in einem einzigen Experiment zu messen. Um die Detektion automatisch anzupassen, trainierte ich ein Convolutional Neural Network, um den Zellzyklusstatus einzelner Zellen anhand der aufgenommenen Fluoreszenzbilder zu erkennen. Mit diesem neuen LSFM-Typ demonstriere ich autonome Messungen der Spindel-Skalierung in sich frei entwickelnden Zebrafischembryonen.

La protéine de liaison à l’ARN double-brin Staufen1 (STAU1) est exprimée dans les cellules de mammifères de manière ubiquitaire. STAU1 est impliqué dans la régulation post-transcriptionnelle de l’expression génique grâce à sa capacité de lier les ARN et moduler leur épissage, leur transport et localisation, leur traduction ainsi que leur dégradation. Des études récentes de notre laboratoire indiquent que l’expression de STAU1 est régulée durant le cycle cellulaire, ayant une abondance maximale au début de la mitose. En prométaphase, STAU1 est lié à des ARNm codant pour des facteurs impliqués dans la régulation de la prolifération, la croissance et la différenciation cellulaires. De plus, des analyses protéomiques menées sur des cellules humaines ont permis d’identifier STAU1 comme un composant de l’appareil mitotique. Cependant, l’importance de cette association n’a pas été investiguée. Par ailleurs, il a été montré qu’une défaillance dans l’expression ou les fonctions de STAU1 pourrait contribuer au développement et l’accélération de plusieurs maladies débilitantes, dont le cancer. Dans cette thèse, nous avons montré la localisation de STAU155 sur le fuseau mitotique dans les cellules de cancer colorectal HCT116 et les cellules non transformées hTERT-RPE1. Nous avons également caractérisé le déterminant moléculaire impliqué dans l’interaction entre STAU155 et les microtubules mitotiques, soit la séquence située dans les 88 premiers acides aminés N-terminaux de RBD2, un domaine qui n’est pas requis pour l’activité de liaison à l’ARN de STAU1. Nous avons ainsi montré que la fraction de STAU1 enrichie sur le fuseau colocalise avec des ribosomes dans des sites actifs de traduction. De plus, notre analyse transcriptomique du fuseau mitotique montre que 1054 transcrits (ARNm, pré-ARNr, lncRNA et snoRNA) sont enrichis sur l’appareil mitotique. De façon intéressante, le knockout de STAU1 entraine la délocalisation des pré-ARNr et de 154 ARNm codants pour des protéines impliquées dans l’organisation du cytosquelette d'actine et la croissance 4 cellulaire. Bien que STAU1 n’est pas essentiel pour la survie et la prolifération des cellules cancéreuses HCT116, nos résultats mettent clairement en évidence l’implication de STAU1 dans la régulation des ARN spécifiques en mitose et suggèrent un nouveau rôle de cette protéine dans la progression mitotique et la cytokinèse par la régulation de la maintenance des pré-ARNr, la ribogenèse et/ou la reconstitution de l’enveloppe nucléaire. / Staufen1 (STAU1) is a double-stranded RNA-binding protein that is ubiquitously expressed in mammals and known for its involvement in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression such as splicing, transport and localization, translation, and decay. It has been demonstrated that STAU1 protein expression level is modulated through the cell cycle with peak abundance by the onset of the mitotic phase after which it is degraded. Genome-wide analysis revealed that in prometaphase, STAU1 bound with mRNAs code for factors implicated in cell differentiation, cell growth as well as for cell proliferation. Interestingly, previous large-scale proteomic studies identified STAU1 as a component of the human mitotic spindle apparatus. Altering STAU1 expression patterns or functions may lead to several debilitating human diseases including cancer. In this thesis, we further elucidated the localization of STAU1 at the mitotic spindle of the colorectal cancer HCT116 and the non-transformed hTERT-RPE1 cells. Next, we characterized the molecular determinant required for STAU1/spindle association within the first 88 N-terminal amino acids, a domain that is not required for the RNA binding activity. RNA-Seq analysis of purified mitotic spindles reveals that 1054 mRNAs as well as the precursor ribosomal RNA, lncRNAs and snoRNAs are enriched on spindles compared to cell extracts. Spindle-associated STAU1 partly co-localizes with ribosomes and active sites of translation. Interestingly, the knockout of STAU1 delocalizes pre-rRNA and 154 mRNAs coding for proteins involved in actin cytoskeleton organization and cell growth. Our results highlighting a role for STAU1 in mRNA trafficking to the spindle. These data demonstrate that STAU1 controls the localization of sub-populations of RNA during cell division and suggests a novel role of STAU1 protein in mitotic progression and cytokinesis by regulating pre-rRNA maintenance, ribogenesis and/or nucleoli reassembly.

Cytoplasmic dynein is a microtubule-dependent motor protein which participates in numerous cellular processes. The motor complex consists of two heavy chains, intermediate, light intermediate and 3 families of light chains. Dynein is able to bind to these accessory chains as well as to regulatory proteins which enables the motor protein to fulfil such a variety of cellular processes. The associated light chains participate in long-distance organelle and vesicle transport in interphase and in chromosome segregation during mitosis. However, how these light chains control the activity of the motor protein is still unknown. In this study, I combine molecular genetics and live cell imaging to elucidate the role of the associated dynein light intermediate and light chains in dynein behaviour and early endosome (EE) motility in hyphal interphase cells as well as the anchorage of dynein to the microtubule (MT) plus-end in interphase and mitotic cells. I show that the dynein light intermediate chain (DLIC) as well as the light chain 2 (DLC2, Roadblock) are involved in dynein processivity and EE movement in interphase. The downregulation of either protein results in short hyphal growth which could be caused by a decreased runlength of EE and dynein. In addition, both proteins participate in dynein anchorage to the microtubule plus-end in interphase and mitosis as well as in spindle elongation during mitosis. Each protein causes a decrease of the motor protein dynein at MT plus-ends. Surprisingly, I found only minor or no defects in LC8 or Tctex mutants in the observed functions of dynein. LC8 seems to affect the dynein but not the EE runlength. In this case, dynein is still able to move into the bipolar MT array from where kinesin3 is able to take over EEs and move them towards the cell center. In contrast, Tctex has no effect on dynein or EE runlength or any other observed dynein function in hyphal cells. However, it causes a reduction in spindle elongation. Taken together, DLIC and DLC2 are important for dynein behaviour in long distance transport as well as in spindle positioning and elongation during mitosis. Furthermore, I studied the involvement of the dynein regulators Lis1 and NudE as well as the plus-end binding protein Clip1 (Clip-170 homologue) in the anchorage of dynein to the astral microtubule plus-ends during mitosis. The disruption of the anchorage complex at the astral MT plus-end causes a decrease in dynein number at this site and therefore slower spindle elongation in Anaphase B. Taken together, all three proteins are involved in anchorage of dynein to the astral microtubule tip and the subsequent spindle elongation. Furthermore, these findings also show that Ustilago maydis evolved two different mechanisms to anchor the motor protein to MT plus-ends in hyphal and mitotic cells. The plus-end binding protein Peb1 (EB1 homologue) and the dynein regulator dynactin mediate the dynein anchorage in hyphal cells whereas in mitotic cells the plus-ends binding protein Clip1 and the dynein regulators Lis1 and NudE anchor dynein to astral MT plus-ends.