A role for the lissencephaly gene LIS1 in mitosis and cytoplasmic dynein function

• Published in: Nature cell biology Vol. 2; no. 11; pp. 784 - 791
• Main Authors: Vallee, Richard B, Faulkner, Nicole E, Dujardin, Denis L, Tai, Chin-Yin, Vaughan, Kevin T, O'Connell, Christopher B, Wang, Yu-li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01-11-2000
• Subjects: 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; Animals; Antibodies; Brain; Cell Division; Cell Line; Cercopithecus aethiops; Chromosomes; COS Cells; Cytoplasm - metabolism; Dogs; dynactin; Dynactin Complex; Dynein; Dyneins - metabolism; Dyneins - physiology; Encephalopathy; Gene Expression; Gene mutations; Genetic aspects; Genotype & phenotype; Humans; Injection; Kinetochores - metabolism; LIS1 gene; Lis1 protein; lissencephaly; Localization; Mammals; Microtubule-Associated Proteins - genetics; Microtubule-Associated Proteins - metabolism; Microtubule-Associated Proteins - physiology; Microtubules - metabolism; Mitosis; Mitosis - physiology; Mutation; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Precipitin Tests - methods; Subcellular Fractions
• ISSN: 1465-7392; 1476-4679; 1476-4679
• DOI: 10.1038/35041020

Mutations in the LIS1 gene cause gross histological disorganization of the developing human brain, resulting in a brain surface that is almost smooth. Here we show that LIS1 protein co-immunoprecipitates with cytoplasmic dynein and dynactin, and localizes to the cell cortex and to mitotic kinetochores, which are known sites for binding of cytoplasmic dynein. Overexpression of LIS1 in cultured mammalian cells interferes with mitotic progression and leads to spindle misorientation. Injection of anti-LIS1 antibody interferes with attachment of chromosomes to the metaphase plate, and leads to chromosome loss. We conclude that LIS1 participates in a subset of dynein functions, and may regulate the division of neuronal progenitor cells in the developing brain.