How to remove unwanted components from the cell nucleus

The organisation of cells into specific compartments is critical for their function. For instance, by separating the nucleus from the cytoplasm, the nuclear envelope prevents premature translation of immature RNAs.

During mitosis, however, the nuclear envelope disassembles, allowing large cytoplasmic components such as ribosomes to mix with nuclear material. When the nuclear envelope reassembles following mitosis, these cytoplasmic components must once again be removed. “The nuclear envelope can contribute to this by actively importing or exporting substrates up to a certain size, but it was not clear what happens with very large cytoplasmic components”, says Mina Petrovic, from the Gerlich lab at IMBA – the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology – and joint first author of the study.

The research team from IMBA and EMBL have now shown that large components such as ribosomes are in fact removed from the forming nucleus before the nuclear envelope is assembled again. This exclusion process requires the protein Ki-67, which was the focus of an earlier publication in Nature by Sara Cuylen-Häring, group leader at EMBL Heidelberg and the other joint first author of this study.

In this older study it was discovered that Ki-67 was responsible for keeping chromosomes separated in early stages of mitosis by acting as a surfactant. “Remarkably, we have now found that it changes its properties at the end of mitosis and performs the opposite function, namely clustering of chromosomes,” said Cuylen-Häring. By coming together into a dense cluster at the end of cell division, chromosomes are able to exclude large cytoplasmic components before the nuclear envelope reforms.

“This collaborative work shows how a single protein can dynamically change the surface properties of chromosomes,” explains Alberto Hernandez Armendariz, PhD student in the Cuylen-Häring group. “Ultimately, this facilitates effective compartmentalisation of key processes within the cell.”

Links

• IMBA – Institute for Molecular Biotechnology
• Cuylen-Häring group

Source Articles
Daniel Gerlich et al. Chromosome clustering by Ki-67 excludes cytoplasm during nuclear assembly. Nature, published on 02 September 2020. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2672-3

Sara Cuylen-Häring et al. Ki-67 acts as a biological surfactant to disperse mitotic chromosomes. Nature, published 29 June 2016. DOI: 10.1038/nature18610

About IMBA
IMBA – Institute of Molecular Biotechnology – is one of the leading biomedical research institutes in Europe focusing on cutting-edge stem cell technologies, functional genomics, and RNA biology. IMBA is located at the Vienna BioCenter, the vibrant cluster of universities, research institutes and biotech companies in Austria. IMBA is a subsidiary of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the leading national sponsor of non-university academic research. The stem cell and organoid research at IMBA is being funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and the City of Vienna.