NOD is a plus end-directed motor that binds EB1 via a new microtubule tip localization sequence

• Published in: The Journal of cell biology Vol. 217; no. 9; pp. 3007 - 3017
• Main Authors: Ye, Anna A, Verma, Vikash, Maresca, Thomas J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Rockefeller University Press 03-09-2018
• Subjects: Cell division; Chromosomes; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Fruit flies; Genomes; Kinesin; Localization; Motors; Polymerization; Tracking
• ISSN: 0021-9525; 1540-8140
• DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201708109

Chromosome congression, the process of positioning chromosomes in the midspindle, promotes the stable transmission of the genome to daughter cells during cell division. Congression is typically facilitated by DNA-associated, microtubule (MT) plus end-directed motors called chromokinesins. The
chromokinesin NOD contributes to congression, but the means by which it does so are unknown in large part because NOD has been classified as a nonmotile, orphan kinesin. It has been postulated that NOD promotes congression, not by conventional plus end-directed motility, but by harnessing polymerization forces by end-tracking on growing MT plus ends via a mechanism that is also uncertain. Here, for the first time, it is demonstrated that NOD possesses MT plus end-directed motility. Furthermore, NOD directly binds EB1 through unconventional EB1-interaction motifs that are similar to a newly characterized MT tip localization sequence. We propose NOD produces congression forces by MT plus end-directed motility and tip-tracking on polymerizing MT plus ends via association with EB1.