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Multiple cyclin-dependent kinase complexes and phosphatases control G2/M progression in alfalfa cells

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Reversible phosphorylation of proteins by kinases and phosphatases plays a key regulatory role in several eukaryotic cellular functions including the control of the division cycle. Increasing numbers of sequence and biochemical data show the involvement of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and cyclins in regulation of the cell cycle progression in higher plants. The complexity represented by different types of CDKs and cyclins in a single species such as alfalfa, indicates that multicomponent regulatory pathways control G2/M transition. A set of cdc2-related genes (cdc2Ms A, B, D and F) was expressed in G2 and M cells. Phosphorylation assays also revealed that at least three kinase complexes (Cdc2Ms A/B, D and F) were successively active in G2/M cells after synchronization. Interaction between alfalfa mitotic cyclin (Medsa;CycB2;1) and a kinase partner has been reported previously. The present yeast two-hybrid analyses showed differential interaction between defined D-type cyclins and Cdc2Ms kinases functioning in G2/M phases. Localization of Cdc2Ms F kinase to the preprophase band (PPB), the perinuclear ring in early prophase, the mitotic spindle and the phragmoplast indicated a pivotal role for this kinase in mitotic plant cells. So far limited research efforts have been devoted to the functions of phosphatases in the control of plant cell division. A homologue of dual phosphatase, cdc25, has not been cloned yet from alfalfa; however tyrosine phosphorylation was indicated in the case of Cdc2Ms A kinase and the p13suc1-bound kinase activity was increased by treatment of this complex with recombinant Drosophila Cdc25. The potential role of serine/threonine phosphatases can be concluded from inhibitor studies based on okadaic acid or endothall. Endothall elevated the kinase activity of p13suc1-bound fractions in G2-phase alfalfa cells. These biochemical data are in accordance with observed cytological abnormalities. The present overview with selected original data outlines a conclusion that emphasizes the complexity of G2/M regulatory events in flowering plants.

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  1. Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. box 521, 6701, Szeged, Hungary

    Tamás Mészáros, Pál Miskolczi, Ferhan Ayaydin, Aladár Pettkó-Szandtner, Adrian Peres, Zoltán Magyar, Gábor V. Horváth, László Bakó, Attila Fehér & Dénes Dudits

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  1. Tamás Mészáros
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  2. Pál Miskolczi
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Mészáros, T., Miskolczi, P., Ayaydin, F. et al. Multiple cyclin-dependent kinase complexes and phosphatases control G2/M progression in alfalfa cells. Plant Mol Biol 43, 595–605 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006412413671

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