Actin protects mammalian eggs against chromosome segregation errors

Binyam Mogessie; Melina Schuh

doi:10.1126/science.aal1647

Actin protects mammalian eggs against chromosome segregation errors

Binyam Mogessie
, Melina Schuh

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

149 Citations (Scopus)

1060 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Chromosome segregation is driven by a spindle that is made of microtubules but is generally thought to be independent of actin. Here, we report an unexpected actin-dependent mechanism that drives the accurate alignment and segregation of chromosomes in mammalian eggs. Prominent actin filaments permeated the microtubule spindle in eggs of several mammalian species, including humans. Disrupting actin in mouse eggs led to significantly increased numbers of misaligned chromosomes as well as lagging chromosomes during meiosis I and II. We found that actin drives accurate chromosome segregation by promoting the formation of functional kinetochore fibers, the microtubule bundles that align and segregate the chromosomes. Thus, actin is essential to prevent chromosome segregation errors in eggs, which are a leading cause of miscarriages, infertility, and Down syndrome.

Original language	English
Article number	eaal1647
Journal	Science
Volume	357
Issue number	6353
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aal1647
Publication status	Published - 25 Aug 2017

Keywords

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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title = "Actin protects mammalian eggs against chromosome segregation errors",

abstract = "Chromosome segregation is driven by a spindle that is made of microtubules but is generally thought to be independent of actin. Here, we report an unexpected actin-dependent mechanism that drives the accurate alignment and segregation of chromosomes in mammalian eggs. Prominent actin filaments permeated the microtubule spindle in eggs of several mammalian species, including humans. Disrupting actin in mouse eggs led to significantly increased numbers of misaligned chromosomes as well as lagging chromosomes during meiosis I and II. We found that actin drives accurate chromosome segregation by promoting the formation of functional kinetochore fibers, the microtubule bundles that align and segregate the chromosomes. Thus, actin is essential to prevent chromosome segregation errors in eggs, which are a leading cause of miscarriages, infertility, and Down syndrome.",

keywords = "Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't",

author = "Binyam Mogessie and Melina Schuh",

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AU - Mogessie, Binyam

AU - Schuh, Melina

PY - 2017/8/25

Y1 - 2017/8/25

N2 - Chromosome segregation is driven by a spindle that is made of microtubules but is generally thought to be independent of actin. Here, we report an unexpected actin-dependent mechanism that drives the accurate alignment and segregation of chromosomes in mammalian eggs. Prominent actin filaments permeated the microtubule spindle in eggs of several mammalian species, including humans. Disrupting actin in mouse eggs led to significantly increased numbers of misaligned chromosomes as well as lagging chromosomes during meiosis I and II. We found that actin drives accurate chromosome segregation by promoting the formation of functional kinetochore fibers, the microtubule bundles that align and segregate the chromosomes. Thus, actin is essential to prevent chromosome segregation errors in eggs, which are a leading cause of miscarriages, infertility, and Down syndrome.

AB - Chromosome segregation is driven by a spindle that is made of microtubules but is generally thought to be independent of actin. Here, we report an unexpected actin-dependent mechanism that drives the accurate alignment and segregation of chromosomes in mammalian eggs. Prominent actin filaments permeated the microtubule spindle in eggs of several mammalian species, including humans. Disrupting actin in mouse eggs led to significantly increased numbers of misaligned chromosomes as well as lagging chromosomes during meiosis I and II. We found that actin drives accurate chromosome segregation by promoting the formation of functional kinetochore fibers, the microtubule bundles that align and segregate the chromosomes. Thus, actin is essential to prevent chromosome segregation errors in eggs, which are a leading cause of miscarriages, infertility, and Down syndrome.

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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DO - 10.1126/science.aal1647

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VL - 357

JO - Science

JF - Science

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Actin protects mammalian eggs against chromosome segregation errors

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