In many organisms, a cytokinetic ring directs daughter cell separation following mitosis. While conserved molecular participants in this process have been defined, the signaling events controlling cytokinetic ring function remain obscure. Using a genetically-tractable fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, I have investigated mechanisms involved in such signaling, with a particular interest in kinase and phosphatase networks. Through identification of a new subunit of the S. pombe chromosomal passenger complex, I have found that Aurora B kinase influences cytokinesis by mediating Cdc14-family phosphatase accumulation at the cytokinetic ring. In addition, I have discovered that Sid2, a kinase of the S. pombe septation initiation network, phosphorylates cytokinetic formin Cdc12 to reverse formin multimerization and allow cytokinetic ring maintenance. My studies also indicate that cytokinesis impacts cell cycle-dependent polarized growth, and that phosphosignaling at the cytokinetic ring ensures robust growth following cell division. These studies advance our understanding of molecular cues regulating cytokinesis, and broaden knowledge concerning the consequences of this control.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-07172013-203322 |
| Date | 29 July 2013 |
| Creators | Bohnert, Kenneth Adam |
| Contributors | Susan R. Wente, Kathleen L. Gould, Stephen R. Hann, Matthew J. Tyska, Ellen H. Fanning |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-07172013-203322/ |
| Rights | restricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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