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Vol. 14, Issue 5, 1993-2004, May 2003
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* Department of Radiation and Stress Cell Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences,
University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands;
Department of Cell Biology and Electron Microscopy, 9713 AV Groningen, The
Netherlands; and
Department of Endocrinology and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine and Health
Sciences, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The
Netherlands
Submitted August 16, 2002;
Revised November 15, 2002;
Accepted January 7, 2003
Monitoring Editor: Tim Stearns
| ABSTRACT |
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-tubulinGFP and EGFP
-tubulinexpressing
Chinese hamster ovary cells. We have shown that during mitosis in the presence
of incompletely replicated or damaged DNA, centrosomes split into fractions
containing only one centriole. This results in the formation of multipolar
spindles with extra centrosome-like structures. Despite the extra centrosomes
and the multipolarity of the spindles, cells do exit from mitosis, resulting
in severe division errors. Our data provide evidence of a novel mechanism
showing how numerous centrosomes and spindle defects can arise and how this
can lead to the formation of aneuploid cells. | INTRODUCTION |
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In normal mammalian cells, there are S-phase and G2/M checkpoint
mechanisms that prevent those cells with incompletely replicated or damaged
DNA from entering mitosis (Hartwell and
Weinert, 1989
; Elledge,
1996
; Smits and Medema,
2001
). However, it is unclear what happens when mammalian cells
with DNA replication defects (for example, if the G2/M checkpoint
is defective or is being overruled) enter mitosis. In the present study, we
aimed to explore the possibility that in mammalian somatic cells, centrosomes
are being altered when DNA replication defects or DNA damage persists in
mitosis. To do this, we took advantage of the fact that Chinese hamster ovary
(CHO) cells progress through mitosis in the presence of DNA damage induced by
the interstrand cross-linker mitomycin-C (MMC) or can be forced into mitosis
with DNA replication defects by use of hydroxyurea (HU) and caffeine
(Schlegel and Pardee, 1986
;
Balczon et al., 1995
;
Balczon et al., 1999
).
We were able to demonstrate the modification of centrosomes during mitosis
when the integrity of DNA was impaired. This led to extra centrosome-like
structures, multipolar spindles, and division errors. Extra centrosomes,
multipolar spindles, and aneuploidy have been observed in numerous tumor cells
(Fukasawa et al.,
1996
; Lingle et al.,
1998
,
2002
;
Xu et al., 1999
;
Brinkley, 2001
;
Marx, 2001
). Despite the
strong correlation between the occurrence of aneuploidy, extra centrosomes,
and genetic instability, the question remains which of these characteristics
is a cause or a consequence of the others. Our live and ultrastructural
analysis provides evidence of one simple order of events. In the presence of
incompletely replicated DNA or damaged DNA, centrosomes break up during
mitosis, multipolar spindles arise, and aneuploid cells may be formed.
Centrosome and spindle abnormalities may therefore be a general response of
mammalian cells when DNA defects persist in mitosis. This may explain the
presence of extra centrosome-like structures and multipolar spindles in a
large variety of cancer cells.
| MATERIALS AND METHODS |
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Stable cell lines expressing
-tubulinGFP or enhanced green
fluorescent protein (EGFP)
-tubulin were generated in CHO cells
and irs1SF cells by standard techniques. The pcDNA3-
TGFP that encodes
the fusion protein
-tubulinGFP was kindly provided by A.
Khodjakov (Albany, NY) (Khodjakov and
Rieder, 1999
). The pEGFP-Tub that encodes the fusion protein
EGFP
-tubulin was purchased from Clontech (Palo Alto, CA). From
30 single-cell colonies, one clone or a subsequent subclone was chosen
that showed moderate expression that did not affect progression through
mitosis and showed a normal organization of
-tubulin and
-tubulincontaining structures. A selective marker, 400 µg/ml
geneticin (GIBCO) was added to the medium.
Treatments
All our standard laboratory chemicals were purchased from Sigma (St. Louis,
MO). Cells were treated with 2.5 mM HU or 5 µg/ml aphidicolin in the medium
for variable times to inhibit DNA synthesis. Caffeine 5 mM or UCN-01 0.3 µM
was added to the medium for 4 h in addition to the HU to force cells with
incompletely replicated DNA into mitosis. When indicated, 0.5 µg/ml
colcemid or 1 µg/ml cytochalasin D was added to the medium in addition to
the HU treatment. To induce DNA damage via interstrand DNA cross-links, 25
µM MMC (Christiaens BV, Breda, The Netherlands) was added to the medium for
1 h.
Immunofluorescence Analysis
Cells were grown for 2 d on coverslips, washed twice with PBS, and fixed
with methanol:acetone 3:1 for 10 min. Coverslips were washed three times for
10 min with PBS, permeabilized with 0.2% Triton-X100 in PBS for 15 min, and
incubated with 50 mM glycine in PBS for 10 min. After 30 min of blocking with
PBG (0.5% BSA and 0.1% glycine in PBS), cells were labeled with polyclonal
anti
-tubulin (Sigma T3559) or anti-pericentrin (Babco, Richmond,
CA) in combination with anti-rabbit FITC (DAKO, Glostrup, Denmark) to
visualize the centrosomes. To visualize the mitotic spindles, a monoclonal
anti
-tubulin (Sigma T5168) was used in combination with
anti-mouse CY3 (Amersham, Piscataway, NJ). To visualize the DNA, cells were
stained for 10 min with 0.2 µg/ml DAPI. To visualize mitotic cells,
Phospho-Histone 3 (PH3) mAb (Cell Signaling Technology, Beverly, MA) was used
in combination with antimouse CY3 (Amersham). Pictures were taken with a
confocal laser-scanning microscope (Leica TCS SP2, Leica Microsystems,
Heidelberg, Germany) with 351/364-, 488-, and 543-nm lasers. Mitotic indexes
were obtained by counting the number of mitotic spindles in >1000 cells.
The percentages of normal and abnormal spindles were obtained by analyzing
>100 spindles per condition. The number of centrosomes in interphase cells
was scored in 500 interphase cells per condition. For this purpose, only
interphase cells with one nucleus were scored.
Time-Lapse Imaging
Images were made with a confocal laser-scanning microscope (Zeiss
LSM510NLO, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany). To keep cells alive during the
experiment (17 h), cells were cultured on a round cover glass mounted in a
special chamber with 2 ml of medium. The chamber was placed on a heated
microscope stage that was kept at 37°C. A mixture of air with 5%
CO2 was blown into the heated stage. The 63x oil immersion
lens was also heated to 37°C. Cells were imaged in six optical planes
(thickness <1 µm, 1-µm distance). A macro was developed (Carl Zeiss)
to move the electronic XY stage to different locations. In this way, 10
different locations could be imaged sequentially. To correct for focal drift,
an autofocus routine was implemented in the time-lapse macro (Carl Zeiss).
During the autofocus procedure, a Z-scan of one line was made with a 633 laser
(XZ plane). The reflection of the laser on the cover glass was measured by
removing the filter in front of the detector. An offset from the
highest-intensity line was used in the macro to start scanning at the same
distance from the cover glass. All 10 locations were imaged in a cycle of 10
min. This cycle was repeated for 17 h. Cells expressing the EGFP or GFP fusion
proteins were excited with a 488 laser, and emission was measured with a BP
500550 filter. Together with the fluorescent image, a transmitted light
(differential interference contrast optics) image was made. At the end of the
17-h period, the cells were still dividing. Data were analyzed using the
LSM510 software (Carl Zeiss).
Electron Microscopy
Cells were grown on Thermanox coverslips and treated with HU and caffeine
or left untreated (control cells) as described above. Cells were immunolabeled
with monoclonal anti
-tubulin (Sigma T5168) and goat anti-mouse
ultrasmall gold particles (Aurion, Wageningen, The Netherlands) followed by
silver enhancement (British BioCell International, Cardiff, UK) as previously
described (Macville et al.,
1995
). Cells were preselected by light microscopy before
consecutive sections were made for electron microscopic (Philips 201, CM100,
Philips, Eindhoven, The Netherlands) analysis.
| RESULTS |
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We then analyzed the spindle and centrosome morphology under these
conditions. Control cells and cells treated with HU and caffeine were fixed
and labeled with an antibody specific to
-tubulin and an antibody
specific to
-tubulin (centrosomal protein)
(Oakley, 2000
). The vast
majority of spindles in control cells were bipolar, with
-tubulin
localized exclusively at the spindle poles and the chromosomes aligned in the
metaphase plate, as previously described in numerous other reports (for
review, see Karsenti and Vernos,
2001
) (Figure 1,
AD). Cells treated with HU and caffeine showed three types
of spindles: (1) bipolar spindles with
-tubulin localized in one spot
at each pole of the spindle (Figure 1,
EH), (2) bipolar spindles but with an abnormal localization
of
-tubulin detected in more than one spot at the spindle poles or
localized anywhere along the spindle
(Figure 1, IL), and (3)
multipolar spindles with
-tubulin localized at every pole of the
spindle (Figure 1, MP).
In all three types of spindles, DNA was never aligned properly in the
metaphase plate. The same results were obtained when an anti-pericentrin
antibody (Doxsey et al.,
1994
) was used as a centrosomal marker (our unpublished results).
This showed not only that the localization of
-tubulin was affected but
that the localization of at least one other centrosomal protein was also
influenced. These results indicated that a centrosome-like structure is
present at sites at which the
-tubulin was detected. Comparable results
were found when aphidicolin was substituted for HU or when UCN-01 (a drug that
is a potent overruler of the G2/M checkpoint)
(Wang et al., 1996
;
Yu et al., 1998
) was
used instead of caffeine. Caffeine treatment alone had no effect on the
mitotic spindles (Table 1). When a lower concentration of HU (0.5 mM) was used, a small population of
cells entered mitosis without the use of caffeine (mitotic index, 0.8%). This
suggests that low concentrations of HU are not sufficient to completely block
cell-cycle arrest and that cells can enter mitosis in the presence of
incompletely replicated DNA, even without the addition of caffeine. Under
these conditions, the same types of abnormal spindles were observed. The
results were also similar when other hamster cell lines (V79 or O23 cells)
were used (our unpublished results). To summarize: these results indicated
that the abnormal mitotic spindles were not the result of caffeine or UCN-01
but merely of DNA synthesis inhibitors.
|
Several reports have already demonstrated that a prolonged S-phase, induced
by HU over a period of >40 h, allows multiple rounds of centrosome
duplication and that after subsequent caffeine treatment, multipolar spindles
and extra centrosome-like structures are observed (Balczon et al.,
1995
,
1999
). These results indicate
that the most plausible hypothesis is that multipolar spindles are the result
of over-duplication of centrosomes in interphase. However, careful examination
of the abnormal spindles, observed in
Figure 1, leads us to suggest
an alternative, although less obvious, sequence of events. The three types of
observed spindles suggest that spindles may start as bipolar
(Figure 1, EH), progress
toward bipolar with too many centrosome-like structures
(Figure 1, IL), and
finally result in the formation of multipolar spindles
(Figure 1, MP). We
therefore propose that the centrosomes do not necessarily have to duplicate in
the preceding interphase but that centrosomes may break up in response to the
presence of incompletely replicated DNA during mitosis. Subsequently, the
fragmented centrosomes may give rise to the multipolar spindles.
Formation of Extra Centrosome-like Structures Can Occur during
Mitosis
To test the theory that extra centrosome-like structures can develop during
mitosis, we chose conditions in which centrosome reduplication did not occur
in the preceding interphase, using short (6-h) incubation times with HU. After
this incubation time with HU, the mitotic index was 0%, indicating that DNA
synthesis was inhibited and that cell-cycle progression had been arrested.
Such short HU incubations did not cause the formation of extra centrosomes
during interphase. This was determined by antibody labeling of centrosomes
(Table 1). It may be possible
that the centrosomes duplicate during 6 h of HU treatment but that the
centrosomes remain in close proximity and extra centrosomes become detectable
only after the cells have been forced into mitosis. To exclude this
possibility, we designed the following experiment: CHO cells were treated with
HU for 6 h, followed by a recovery period without HU and caffeine. After 8 h
of recovery, the cells started to enter mitosis, and almost no multipolar
spindles or extra centrosome-like structures were observed. The spindles were
almost exclusively bipolar (Table
1). These results show that a short HU treatment in itself does
not alter centrosomes during interphase and does not induce the formation of
multipolar spindles. Only when this short HU treatment was immediately
followed by incubation with HU and caffeine for an additional 4 h was a high
percentage of abnormal spindles with extra centrosome-like structures observed
(Table 1,
Figure 1). Together, these
results strongly suggest that aberrant spindles, as observed under these
conditions, are not the result of multiple centrosomes accumulated in
interphase but that the entry into mitosis in the presence of incompletely
replicated DNA may act as a trigger for the formation of multiple
centrosome-like structures and multipolar spindles.
In Response to Incompletely Replicated DNA during Mitosis,
Centrosomes Split into Fragments Containing Only One Centriole
Centrosomes normally duplicate once per cell cycle around the
G1/S transition. Our results demonstrate that centrosome numbers in
interphase cells remain normal after 6 h of HU treatment. However, when cells
are forced into mitosis, extra centrosomal structures arise. The extra
centrosomal structures could be the result of centrosome duplication or
fragmenting in response to the presence of impaired DNA integrity. Mitotic
cells were examined at the ultrastructural level to investigate these
possibilities further. Control cells and cells after treatment with HU and
caffeine were fixed and labeled with
-tubulin antibodies, followed by
immunogold labeling and silver enhancement. Immunogold labeling of the tubulin
filaments allows preselection of mitotic cells at the light microscopic level.
In addition, the prelabeling of the tubulin filaments allows fast
determination of the position of the spindle poles at low magnifications at
the electron microscopic level (Figure 2, A
and C), and thus, centrosomes can be traced and analyzed
relatively quickly. Serial sections were made of the selected cells, and
centrosomal structures were examined. In almost every spindle pole of the
control cells (8/9), two centrioles were detected in the same section
(Figure 2, A and B) or two
centrioles were visible in consecutive sections, indicating that centrioles
are in close proximity under control conditions in most mitotic cells, as
previously described (for review, see
Rieder et al., 2001
).
In contrast, in most (18/23) spindle poles of multipolar spindles after HU and
caffeine treatment (Figure 2, C and
D), only one centriole could be found, and no other centrioles
were observed in consecutive sections. In addition, centriole numbers of
centrosomes in interphase cells containing one nucleus (see Discussion) in HU-
and caffeine-treated samples were also analyzed, and none (0/43) of these
interphase cells showed more than four centrioles or more than two
centrosomes.
|
This ultrastructural analysis confirmed that 6-h HU treatment does not alter interphase centriole and centrosome numbers. However, when entrance into mitosis is initiated in the presence of incompletely replicated DNA, extra centrosome-like structures are formed. These extra centrosome-like structures are not the result of centrosome duplication but arise because of the splitting of the centrosomes in fragments containing only one centriole.
In Vivo Analysis Shows That Bipolar Spindles Convert into Multipolar
Spindles Early in Mitosis When Incompletely Replicated DNA Is Present
It has been demonstrated previously that a severe mitotic delay can induce
centrosome splitting in monocentriolar centrosomes
(Keryer et al., 1984
;
Gallant and Nigg, 1992
;
Hinchcliffe et al.,
1998
). It may therefore be possible that the presence of
incompletely replicated DNA induces a mitotic delay that in turn is the
trigger for centrosomal splitting. However, the alternative may also be
possible, that impaired DNA integrity itself elicits centrosome splitting. To
distinguish between these two possibilities, CHO cell lines were generated
that stably express EGFP
-tubulin or
-tubulinGFP,
and live analyses were performed. Using these cell lines, every
centrosome-like structure or
-tubulincontaining spot and
-tubulincontaining structure were followed in time, in parallel,
with the corresponding cell morphology. Mitosis was defined as the time that a
cell was rounded up and the nuclear envelope was absent. The presence in
interphase cells and absence in mitotic cells of the nuclear envelope can be
followed in the live recordings by the exclusion of the GFP signal from the
nucleus (interphase) or the presence of the GFP signal in the nucleus
(mitosis). A normal mitosis of an EGFP
-tubulinexpressing
cell was defined as the "rounding up" of the cells, followed by
the formation of a bipolar mitotic spindle. Subsequently, a midbody develops,
and two equal-size "rounded-up" daughter cells appear that
reflatten and remain separated (Figure
3)
(http://coo.med.rug.nl/sscb/film/film.htm,
Figure 1). The average time
from the appearance of a mitotic spindle to the formation of two daughter
cells was 17 min (n = 82). In
-tubulinGFPexpressing
control cells, centrosomes were clearly visible as one, or two in close
proximity,
-tubulinGFPcontaining spots. On nuclear
envelope breakdown, they migrate away from each other and remain visible as
two defined diametrically opposed spots during mitosis
(Figure 3). In control cells,
82 mitotic cells were observed, 81 of which proceeded normally through
mitosis. The cell divisions observed in the control situation were highly
comparable to our observations in fixed samples and to the results described
by others using both live recordings
(Khodjakov and Rieder, 1999
;
Sibon et al., 2000
;
Rusan et al., 2001
)
and fixed samples (Zheng et al.,
1991
; Karsenti and Vernos,
2001
, and references therein). This implies that the intensity of
the laser beam was not causing significant cell-cycle arrest and predominantly
allowed mitoses to occur normally. Higher intensities of the laser beam
resulted in improved quality of the live images. However, these higher laser
intensities caused a cell-cycle arrest in most of the recorded cells.
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After HU and caffeine treatment, 55 mitoses were analyzed; 22 mitoses of
EGFP
-tubulinexpressing cells and 33 mitoses of
-tubulinGFPexpressing cells. Live recordings performed
with the EGFP
-tubulinexpressing CHO cells revealed that
in most cases (18/22), a bipolar spindle was formed initially that
subsequently developed into a multipolar spindle during mitosis
(Figure 4). In some mitotic
cells (3/22), a multipolar spindle was observed without the previous detection
of a bipolar spindle. It was unclear whether the bipolar spindle phase
occurred in the 10-min interval between two recorded images or whether a
bipolar spindle was never really formed. Live recordings using the
-tubulinGFPexpressing CHO cells revealed that in many
cases (17/33), two centrosomes were visible early in mitosis and extra
centrosome-like structures were formed during this mitosis
(Figure 4). In some cells
(12/33), two centrosome-like structures were visible throughout the entire
mitosis, and in some cells (4/33), extra centrosome-like structures were
already observed in the first recording in mitosis, whereas only two
centrosome-like structures were observed in the preceding interphase. These
data confirm our idea that when extra centrosome-like structures appear, they
appear during mitosis rather than in the preceding interphase.
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The formation of these extra centrosome-like structures after HU and caffeine treatment already became visible, on average, within the first 18 min after entrance into mitosis, showing that these structures appeared within the time frame of a normal mitosis (17 min, n = 82). Live recordings also revealed that cells with multipolar spindles and extra centrosome-like structures showed a severe mitotic delay. Most mitoses (52/55) lasted >60 min. The observation that extra centrosome-like structures had already appeared early during mitosis excludes the theory that the mitotic delay is the trigger for the centrosome splitting. A more plausible hypothesis is that multipolar spindles or the presence of DNA replication defects causes a mitotic delay.
Cell-Cycle Progression Does Occur in Mitotic Cells with Abnormal
Spindles
We then performed experiments in an attempt to address the question of
whether mitotic cells with abnormal spindles progress into anaphase and
proceed through cytokinesis or whether an internal checkpoint mechanism
prevents cell-cycle progression in the presence of aberrant spindles. Live
recordings of CHO cells incubated with HU and caffeine showed that the
abnormal multipolar spindles cause a severe mitotic delay. Most mitoses
(52/55) lasted >60 min, but none of the cells arrested completely in
mitosis. While cells progressed through mitosis, multiple lobes were formed,
followed by a complete or incomplete cytokinesis
(Figure 5). Forty-two mitotic
cells with multipolar spindles (using the EGFP
-tubulin clone) or
with extra centrosome-like structures (using the
-tubulinGFP
clone) were followed in time. Eleven mitoses resulted in the collapse of the
daughter cells after cytokinesis, and one cell with two or multiple nuclei was
formed (Figure 5). Eighteen
mitoses resulted in the formation of two daughter cells of equal or unequal
size
(http://coo.med.rug.nl/sscb/film/film.htm,
Figure 2). Thirteen mitoses
resulted in the formation of more than two daughter cells
(Figure 5 and for additional
information,
http://coo.med.rug.nl/sscb/film/film.htm,
Figure 3). Especially the
finding that more than two daughter cells can arise provides evidence that
aneuploid cells must have been formed. Live recordings performed with low
concentrations of HU and in the absence of caffeine showed similar results
(our unpublished data), indicating that the progression of the cell cycle in
the presence of aberrant spindles and the possible outcomes are not influenced
or forced by caffeine.
|
To summarize, cells with multipolar spindles show a mitotic delay; however, cell-cycle progression is not blocked. Cytokinesis can occur that can finally result in the formation of cells with multiple nuclei or can result in the formation of aneuploid cells.
Formation of Extra Centrosome-like Structures Requires Microtubulin
Filaments but Is Independent of Actin Filaments
We then went on to test whether the formation of extra centrosome-like
structures was dependent on the presence of microtubules. To do this, cells
were forced into mitosis in the presence of incompletely replicated DNA with
treatment with HU for 6 h and caffeine and colcemid for 4 h. The PH3 antibody
was used as a marker for mitotic cells, and a pericentrin antibody was used as
a centrosomal marker. None (0/100) of the PH3-positive cells showed more than
two centrosomes or centrosome-like structures. When cytochalasin D was used
instead of colcemid, multipolar spindles with extra centrosome-like structures
were observed.
These results show that in the presence of incompletely replicated DNA, centrosome splitting depends on the presence of microtubulin filaments but is not dependent on the presence of actin filaments.
Formation of Extra Centrosome-like Structures and Multipolar Spindles
Also Occurs When MMCTreated Cells Enter Mitosis
To examine whether centrosomal changes would also occur in the presence of
other types of DNA damage, CHO cells were treated with the interstrand DNA
cross-linking compound MMC for 1 h. The cells were then fixed at various time
points after treatment, and spindle morphology was analyzed. Mitotic cells in
samples fixed and labeled with
-tubulin and
-tubulin antibodies
immediately after the MMC treatment showed a normal morphology
indistinguishable from those observed in
Figure 1, AD
(Figure 6, AD). This
indicates that MMC itself does not alter microtubulin filaments or spindle
morphology. MMC did not provoke a cell-cycle arrest in CHO cells, and as time
progressed, the number of multipolar spindles increased after the MMC
treatment even in the absence of caffeine or UCN-01
(Figure 6, EH). In all
multipolar spindles (50/50), chromosome-congression defects were observed
(Figure 6G), whereas in a
bipolar spindle, in most cases (29/50), the DNA was not aligned. Live analysis
of MMC-treated cells confirmed that cells entered mitosis predominantly with
bipolar spindles. In a small percentage of mitotic cells observed (4/65), the
bipolar spindles converted into multipolar spindles with extra centrosome-like
structures early in mitosis. In some mitotic cells (6/65), a multipolar
spindle was formed without the detection of a previous bipolar spindle. It is
again unclear whether the bipolar spindle phase occurred in the 10-min
interval between the two recorded images or whether the bipolar spindle was
never really formed. Progression through mitosis subsequently occurred, and
mitotic exit was comparable to that with HU- and caffeine-treated cells,
although the formation of more than two daughter cells and the collapse of the
daughter cells was observed in a smaller percentage of the cells. Mitosis of
cells with multipolar spindles lasted, on average, 32 min (n = 10). These
results show that splitting of centrosomes also occurs when DNA damage
persists in mitosis. These data further support our theory that centrosome
splitting is not the result of a mitotic delay but rather is merely the
consequence of impaired DNA integrity present during mitosis.
|
A Mutant Defective in Homologous Recombination Shows the Formation of
Comparable Extra Centrosome-like Structures and Aberrant Spindles in
Mitosis
Finally, we speculated that if impaired integrity of the DNA coincides with
the formation of aberrant spindles, mutant cell lines carrying a mutation in
one of the DNA repair genes might spontaneously show an increased percentage
of these abnormal spindles compared with normal cells. To test this
hypothesis, irs1SF cells carrying a mutation in the XRCC3 gene that is
involved in homologous recombination were used. It had been reported
previously that in this cell line, the percentage of mitotic cells but not
interphase cells with too many centrosomes is higher than in control cells
(Griffin et al.,
2000
). Irs1SF cells were generated that express
EGFP
-tubulin or
-tubulinGFP, and these were
analyzed in vivo. In nontreated cells, we found that in 10 of 123 cases, extra
centrosome-like structures recorded in
-tubulinGFPexpressing cells or multipolar spindles
recorded in EGFP
-tubulinexpressing cells were formed
during mitosis. In some mitotic cells (10/123), a multipolar spindle was
formed without the detection of a previous bipolar spindle. Compared with the
results obtained in CHO cells after HU and caffeine treatment, the extra
centrosome-like structures appeared within the time frame of a normal mitosis.
A number of these abnormal mitoses (4/20) resulted in the formation of more
than two daughter cells (Figure
7 and
http://coo.med.rug.nl/sscb/film/film.htm,
Figure 4).
|
These results show that during mitosis, multipolar spindles or extra centrosome-like structures were formed spontaneously in a repair-defective cell line and that the aberrant centrosome-like structures are not induced by a mitotic delay in this cell line. In addition to this, a fraction of the aberrant mitoses resulted in the formation of aneuploid cells.
| DISCUSSION |
|---|
|
|
|---|
-tubulin, resulting in nonfunctional
anastral spindles (Sibon et al.,
2000
10 min, and the cell cycle consists of only S-
and M-phase) show different responses to impaired DNA integrity compared with
somatic mammalian cells with relatively long cell cycles (20 h). Despite the
differences between the two systems, centrosomes of both organisms do change
in the presence of DNA replication defects and DNA damage. Both centrosomal
alterations can lead to the formation of collapsed nuclei and cells with extra
centrosomal structures.
After HU or MMC treatment and spontaneously in the irs1SF cell line (our
unpublished results and Griffin et
al., 2000
), multipolar spindles always coincide with
chromosome-congression defects. Comparable chromosome-congression defects were
observed in embryos of the Drosophila mutant grapes. Grapes
mutant embryos enter mitosis prematurely and most likely in the presence of
incompletely replicated DNA (Sibon et
al., 2000
). It may be possible that impaired DNA integrity
interferes with DNA alignment at the metaphase plate, or it may be that
multipolar spindles with split centrosomes are unable to align the DNA
properly. We prefer the first explanation because in all bipolar spindles
after HU treatment and in most bipolar spindles after MMC treatment, the
chromosomes do not form a compact mass at the metaphase plate. These results
suggest that chromosome-congression defects occur independently of centrosome
splitting. In addition, it may be that chromosome-congression defects precede
the splitting of centrosomes and precede the formation of multipolar spindles.
To examine DNA-congression defects in relation to spindle abnormalities in
more detail, live recordings are necessary to visualize the DNA and
spindle/centrosomes simultaneously.
Our data suggest the existence of a signaling system between impaired DNA
integrity and centrosomal organization in mitotic cells. The mechanism of this
sensing system, however, remains elusive. Our data show that actin filaments
are not involved but that microtubules may play a role. It may also be
possible that microtubules are not required in the sensing mechanism per se
but rather are involved only in splitting the centrosomes. The latter,
however, seems unlikely, because it has been demonstrated by others that
during interphase, centrosomal splitting induced by several protein kinases
does occur in the absence of microtubules
(Meraldi and Nigg, 2001
).
Under control conditions, centrioles are kept together by a proteinaceous
link (Paintrand et al.,
1992
). The tightness of this connection seems to be flexible,
because the mother and daughter centriole separation occurs at specific points
during the cell cycle. In Drosophila embryos, centriole splitting
happens during mitotic exit, and interphase cells start with two centrosomes,
each containing one centriole (Callaini
et al., 1997
). The anaphase-promoting complex activator
Cdc20fizzy is either directly or indirectly required for this
timely disengagement of centrioles in Drosophila embryos
(Vidwans et al.,
1999
). In mammalian cells, mother and daughter centrioles move
away from each other twice during the cell cycle. The first time occurs
immediately after mitosis when the centriole pair splits. Before cytokinesis
is completed and when daughter cells are still linked by a cytoplasmic bridge,
the mother centriole transiently leaves the daughter centriole and moves to
the intercellular bridge (Piel et
al., 2000
). Evidence has shown that proper cytokinesis
depends on these movements of the mother centriole
(Piel et al., 2001
).
A second splitting event of centrioles occurs later in G1, when a
slight separation marks the first identifiable event of centrosome duplication
(Hinchcliffe et al.,
1999
). Using Xenopus embryo extracts, several
factors have been identified that play a role in centriole separation, such as
Cul1, Skp1, and Cdk2 (Lacey et
al., 1999
; Freed et
al., 1999
).
Separation of the duplicated centrosomes and thus of the parental
centrioles in G2/M is controlled by a balance between phosphatases
and kinases, such as Nek2, PP1, and Cdc14A
(Fry et al., 1998
;
Helps et al., 2000
;
Mailand et al., 2002
;
Meraldi and Nigg, 2002
).
Together, these results show that centriole and centrosome separation are
under tight control, and factors have been identified that play a role in
these timely events. Whether one of these factors is involved in centriole
splitting early in mitosis in the presence of impaired DNA integrity still
remains to be tested.
Cells with aberrant spindles somehow manage to progress through mitosis,
indicating that there is no evidence of a checkpoint pathway that arrests
progression through mitosis in the presence of aberrant spindles. These
results are in agreement with an earlier report demonstrating that aberrant
spindles do not themselves cause an arrest, whereas unattached kinetochores,
for example, do lead to a delay in anaphase onset
(Sluder et al.,
1997
). In contrast to the latter report, our results show that in
the presence of multipolar spindles, mitosis is severely delayed. This is most
likely a specific response to the presence of incompletely replicated or
damaged DNA. DNA damage and DNA replication defects that persist in mitosis
also coincide with a severe mitotic delay in Drosophila embryos
(Sibon et al.,
2000
).
Mitotic exit of cells with abnormal spindles results in different outcomes,
such as the formation of two daughter cells, two or more daughter cells that
collapse, or the formation of more than two daughter cells that remain
separated. The collapsed cells contain two or more nuclei and four centrioles.
This will probably give rise to more than two centrosome-like structures in
the next interphase. In fixed samples after HU and caffeine, it was indeed the
case that an increased fraction of cells with more than one nucleus and more
than two centrosomes was observed (our unpublished results). This corresponds
with an earlier report that demonstrated that abortive cell division results
in cells with two or more nuclei and more than two centrosome-like structures.
This has been shown to be a major route to multiple centrosomes
(Meraldi et al.,
2002
). The failed cytokinesis in the latter was caused by
overexpression of Polo-like kinase 1 and Aurora-B, and in our report, the
failed cytokinesis is induced by centrosome abnormalities observed in the
presence of impaired DNA integrity.
The percentages of multipolar spindles and subsequently the formation of collapsed cells or aneuploid cells differ between the HU-treated cells and the MMC-treated cells and irs1SF cells. One possible explanation may be that 6 h of HU followed by caffeine treatment produces DNA defects in a population of partly synchronized cells. This results in a more severe phenotype and more pronounced centrosomal alterations compared with what occurs spontaneously in the repair-deficient cell line or what is induced after MMC treatment for 1 h. It might also be possible that there are differences in centrosomal responses between replication inhibition and DNA damage.
Our live analyses demonstrate that aneuploid cells can arise from
cytokinesis of cells with multipolar spindles. Our observations did not allow
us to follow the path of the aneuploid cells over more generations. However,
it is likely that a small percentage of the aneuploid cells were able to
survive and divide. In the irs1SF cell line, in which multiple centrosome-like
structures arise spontaneously during mitosis and can therefore lead to the
formation of more than two daughter cells, aneuploidy is indeed enhanced
(Griffin et al.,
2000
). Although we cannot exclude the possibility that in this
cell line, aneuploidy may be caused by additional mechanisms, the order of
events as we describe them here might be a major contributor to the formation
of viable aneuploid cells.
Extra centrosomes, multipolar spindles, and aneuploidy as we have reported
here are three characteristics also observed in numerous tumor cells
(Fukasawa et al.,
1996
; Lingle et al.,
1998
; Xu et al.,
1999
; Brinkley,
2001
; Marx, 2001
).
However, the origin of multiple centrosomes was not captured by "live
analysis" in any of the above-mentioned studies, and none of the data
provided evidence as to whether multiple centrosomes are a cause or a
consequence of aneuploidy. However, it is highly plausible that mutations in
genes that normally regulate centrosome duplication, such as p53, lead to the
formation of multiple centrosomes in interphase and that extra centrosomes in
turn lead to the formation of multipolar spindles and subsequently aneuploidy
(Fukasawa et al.,
1996
; Tarapore and Fukasawa,
2000
; Tarapore et
al., 2001
). In addition to this, our studies suggest that
extra centrosome-like structures and multipolar spindles can arise
independently from mutations in genes that regulate centrosome duplication
(see also Figure 8).
|
We demonstrated that during mitosis, centrosomes can split into monocentriolar fragments and multipolar spindles can arise in the presence of impaired DNA integrity. This shows that not only interphase can be an initial source for the formation of extra centrosome-like structures. Despite the presence of multipolar spindles, cells do exit mitosis, and aneuploid cells and cells with multiple nuclei can arise. Our data provide a simple model for a possible order of events as to how impaired DNA integrity, numerous centrosomes, aberrant spindles, and aneuploidy are linked.
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
|---|
|
|
|---|
-tubulinGFP construct,
M. Zdzienicka for the irs1SF cell line, and B.J.L. Eggen, W.E. Theurkauf, and
B. Humbel for critical reading and helpful comments on the manuscript. The
work was supported by grants from The Netherlands Organization for Scientific
Research: NWO (90101-221), and from the Interuniversitairy Institute
for Radiopathology and Radiation Protection: IRS (7.2.6). | Footnotes |
|---|
Online version of this article contains video material. Online version of
this article is available at
www.molbiolcell.org. ![]()
Corresponding author. E-mail address:
o.c.m.sibon{at}med.rug.nl.
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