Identification of abscission checkpoint bodies as structures that regulate ESCRT factors to control abscission timing

Aurora B controls microtubule stability to regulate abscission dynamics in stem cells

Abscission is the last step of cell division. It separates the two sister cells and consists of cutting the cytoplasmic bridge. Abscission is mediated by the ESCRT membrane remodeling machinery, which also triggers the severing of a thick bundle of microtubules. Here, we show that rather than being passive actors in abscission, microtubules control abscission speed. Using mouse embryonic stem cells, which transition from slow to fast abscission during exit from naive pluripotency, we investigate the molecular mechanism for the regulation of abscission dynamics and identify crosstalk between Aurora B activity and microtubule stability. We demonstrate that naive stem cells maintain high Aurora B activity on the bridge after cytokinesis. This high Aurora B activity leads to transient microtubule stabilization that delays abscission by decreasing MCAK recruitment to the midbody. In turn, stable microtubules promote the activity of Aurora B. Overall, our data demonstrate that Aurora B-dependent microtubule stability controls abscission dynamics.

The Complex Regulation of Cytokinesis upon Abscission Checkpoint Activation

Cytokinetic abscission is a crucial process that guides the separation of daughter cells at the end of each cell division. This process involves the cleavage of the intercellular bridge, which connects the newly formed daughter cells. Over the years, researchers have identified several cellular contributors and intracellular processes that influence the spatial and temporal distribution of the cytoskeleton during cytokinetic abscission. This review presents the most important scientific discoveries that allow activation of the abscission checkpoint, ensuring a smooth and successful separation of a single cell into two cells during cell division. Here, we describe different factors, such as abscission checkpoint, ICB tension, nuclear pore defects, DNA replication stress, chromosomal stability, and midbody proteins, which play a role in the regulation and correct timing of cytokinetic abscission. Furthermore, we explore the downsides associated with the dysregulation of abscission, including its negative impact on cells and the potential to induce tumor formation in humans. Finally, we propose a novel factor for improving cancer therapy and give future perspectives in this research field.

Incomplete divisions between sister germline cells require Usp8 function

Cytokinetic abscission is the final step of cell division, resulting in two separate daughter cells. While abscission is typically complete across most cell types, germline cells, which produce sexual gametes, do not finish cytokinesis, maintaining connections between sister cells. These connections are essential for sharing cytoplasm as they differentiate into oocyte and sperm. First, we outline the molecular events of cytokinesis during both complete and delayed abscission, highlighting the role of the ESCRT-III proteins. We then focus on recent discoveries that reveal the molecular mechanisms blocking abscission in Drosophila germline cells. The enzyme Usp8 was identified as vital for ensuring incomplete cytokinesis through the regulation of ESCRT-III ubiquitination and localization. Finally, we explore how the processes of incomplete cytokinesis could hold evolutionary importance, suggesting additional studies into choanoflagellates to comprehend the origins of multicellularity.

Preserving Genome Integrity: Unveiling the Roles of ESCRT Machinery

The endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) machinery is composed of an articulated architecture of proteins that assemble at multiple cellular sites. The ESCRT machinery is involved in pathways that are pivotal for the physiology of the cell, including vesicle transport, cell division, and membrane repair. The subunits of the ESCRT I complex are mainly responsible for anchoring the machinery to the action site. The ESCRT II subunits function to bridge and recruit the ESCRT III subunits. The latter are responsible for finalizing operations that, independently of the action site, involve the repair and fusion of membrane edges. In this review, we report on the data related to the activity of the ESCRT machinery at two sites: the nuclear membrane and the midbody and the bridge linking cells in the final stages of cytokinesis. In these contexts, the machinery plays a significant role for the protection of genome integrity by contributing to the control of the abscission checkpoint and to nuclear envelope reorganization and correlated resilience. Consistently, several studies show how the dysfunction of the ESCRT machinery causes genome damage and is a codriver of pathologies, such as laminopathies and cancer.

Methylation of ESCRT-III components regulates the timing of cytokinetic abscission

Abscission is the final stage of cytokinesis, which cleaves the intercellular bridge (ICB) connecting two daughter cells. Abscission requires tight control of the recruitment and polymerization of the Endosomal Protein Complex Required for Transport-III (ESCRT-III) components. We explore the role of post-translational modifications in regulating ESCRT dynamics. We discover that SMYD2 methylates the lysine 6 residue of human CHMP2B, a key ESCRT-III component, at the ICB, impacting the dynamic relocation of CHMP2B to sites of abscission. SMYD2 loss-of-function (genetically or pharmacologically) causes CHMP2B hypomethylation, delayed CHMP2B polymerization and delayed abscission. This is phenocopied by CHMP2B lysine 6 mutants that cannot be methylated. Conversely, SMYD2 gain-of-function causes CHMP2B hypermethylation and accelerated abscission, specifically in cells undergoing cytokinetic challenges, thereby bypassing the abscission checkpoint. Additional experiments highlight the importance of CHMP2B methylation beyond cytokinesis, namely during ESCRT-III-mediated HIV-1 budding. We propose that lysine methylation signaling fine-tunes the ESCRT-III machinery to regulate the timing of cytokinetic abscission and other ESCRT-III dependent functions.

Cytokinetic abscission requires actin-dependent microtubule severing

Cell division is completed by the abscission of the intercellular bridge connecting the daughter cells. Abscission requires the polymerization of an ESCRT-III cone close to the midbody to both recruit the microtubule severing enzyme spastin and scission the plasma membrane. Here, we found that the microtubule and the membrane cuts are two separate events that are regulated differently. Using HeLa cells, we uncovered that the F-actin disassembling protein Cofilin-1 controls the disappearance of a transient pool of branched F-actin which is precisely assembled at the tip of the ESCRT-III cone shortly before the microtubule cut. Functionally, Cofilin-1 and Arp2/3-mediated branched F-actin favor abscission by promoting local severing of the microtubules but do not participate later in the membrane scission event. Mechanistically, we propose that branched F-actin functions as a physical barrier that limits ESCRT-III cone elongation and thereby favors stable spastin recruitment. Our work thus reveals that F-actin controls the timely and local disassembly of microtubules required for cytokinetic abscission.

The Calpain-7 protease functions together with the ESCRT-III protein IST1 within the midbody to regulate the timing and completion of abscission

The Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport (ESCRT) machinery mediates the membrane fission step that completes cytokinetic abscission and separates dividing cells. Filaments composed of ESCRT-III subunits constrict membranes of the intercellular bridge midbody to the abscission point. These filaments also bind and recruit cofactors whose activities help execute abscission and/or delay abscission timing in response to mitotic errors via the NoCut/Abscission checkpoint. We previously showed that the ESCRT-III subunit IST1 binds the cysteine protease Calpain-7 (CAPN7) and that CAPN7 is required for both efficient abscission and NoCut checkpoint maintenance (Wenzel et al., 2022). Here, we report biochemical and crystallographic studies showing that the tandem microtubule-interacting and trafficking (MIT) domains of CAPN7 bind simultaneously to two distinct IST1 MIT interaction motifs. Structure-guided point mutations in either CAPN7 MIT domain disrupted IST1 binding in vitro and in cells, and depletion/rescue experiments showed that the CAPN7-IST1 interaction is required for (1) CAPN7 recruitment to midbodies, (2) efficient abscission, and (3) NoCut checkpoint arrest. CAPN7 proteolytic activity is also required for abscission and checkpoint maintenance. Hence, IST1 recruits CAPN7 to midbodies, where its proteolytic activity is required to regulate and complete abscission.

Reversible phase separation of ESCRT protein ALIX through tyrosine phosphorylation

Cytokinetic abscission, the last step of cell division, is regulated by the ESCRT machinery. In response to mitotic errors, ESCRT proteins, namely, ALIX, CHMP4B, and CHMP4C, accumulate in the cytosolic compartments termed "abscission checkpoint bodies" (ACBs) to delay abscission and prevent tumorigenesis. ALIX contributes to the biogenesis and stability of ACBs via an unknown mechanism. We show that ALIX phase separates into nondynamic condensates in vitro and in vivo, mediated by the amyloidogenic portion of its proline-rich domain. ALIX condensates confined CHMP4 paralogs in vitro. These condensates dissolved and reformed upon reversible tyrosine phosphorylation of ALIX, mediated by Src kinase and PTP1B, and sequestration of CHMP4C altered their Src-mediated dissolution. NMR analysis revealed how ALIX triggers the activation of CHMP4 proteins, which is required for successful abscission. These results implicate ALIX's phase separation in the modulation of ACBs. This study also highlights how posttranslational modifications can control protein phase separation.

Chaperone-Dependent Degradation of Cdc42 Promotes Cell Polarity and Shields the Protein from Aggregation

Rho GTPases are global regulators of cell polarity and signaling. By exploring the turnover regulation of the yeast Rho GTPase Cdc42p, we identified new regulatory features surrounding the stability of the protein. We specifically show that Cdc42p is degraded at 37 °C by chaperones through lysine residues located in the C-terminus of the protein. Cdc42p turnover at 37 °C occurred by the 26S proteasome in an ESCRT-dependent manner in the lysosome/vacuole. By analyzing versions of Cdc42p that were defective for turnover, we show that turnover at 37 °C promoted cell polarity but was defective for sensitivity to mating pheromone, presumably mediated through a Cdc42p-dependent MAP kinase pathway. We also identified one residue (K16) in the P-loop of the protein that was critical for Cdc42p stability. Accumulation of Cdc42pK16R in some contexts led to the formation of protein aggregates, which were enriched in aging mother cells and cells undergoing proteostatic stress. Our study uncovers new aspects of protein turnover regulation of a Rho-type GTPase that may extend to other systems. Moreover, residues identified here that mediate Cdc42p turnover correlate with several human diseases, which may suggest that turnover regulation of Cdc42p is important to aspects of human health.

Mechanics and regulation of cytokinetic abscission

Cytokinetic abscission leads to the physical cut of the intercellular bridge (ICB) connecting the daughter cells and concludes cell division. In different animal cells, it is well established that the ESCRT-III machinery is responsible for the constriction and scission of the ICB. Here, we review the mechanical context of abscission. We first summarize the evidence that the ICB is initially under high tension and explain why, paradoxically, this can inhibit abscission in epithelial cells by impacting on ESCRT-III assembly. We next detail the different mechanisms that have been recently identified to release ICB tension and trigger abscission. Finally, we discuss whether traction-induced mechanical cell rupture could represent an ancient alternative mechanism of abscission and suggest future research avenues to further understand the role of mechanics in regulating abscission.

Comprehensive analysis of the human ESCRT-III-MIT domain interactome reveals new cofactors for cytokinetic abscission

The 12 related human ESCRT-III proteins form filaments that constrict membranes and mediate fission, including during cytokinetic abscission. The C-terminal tails of polymerized ESCRT-III subunits also bind proteins that contain Microtubule-Interacting and Trafficking (MIT) domains. MIT domains can interact with ESCRT-III tails in many different ways to create a complex binding code that is used to recruit essential cofactors to sites of ESCRT activity. Here, we have comprehensively and quantitatively mapped the interactions between all known ESCRT-III tails and 19 recombinant human MIT domains. We measured 228 pairwise interactions, quantified 60 positive interactions, and discovered 18 previously unreported interactions. We also report the crystal structure of the SPASTIN MIT domain in complex with the IST1 C-terminal tail. Three MIT enzymes were studied in detail and shown to: (1) localize to cytokinetic midbody membrane bridges through interactions with their specific ESCRT-III binding partners (SPASTIN-IST1, KATNA1-CHMP3, and CAPN7-IST1), (2) function in abscission (SPASTIN, KATNA1, and CAPN7), and (3) function in the 'NoCut' abscission checkpoint (SPASTIN and CAPN7). Our studies define the human MIT-ESCRT-III interactome, identify new factors and activities required for cytokinetic abscission and its regulation, and provide a platform for analyzing ESCRT-III and MIT cofactor interactions in all ESCRT-mediated processes.

Caveolae promote successful abscission by controlling intercellular bridge tension during cytokinesis

During cytokinesis, the intercellular bridge (ICB) connecting the daughter cells experiences pulling forces, which delay abscission by preventing the assembly of the ESCRT scission machinery. Abscission is thus triggered by tension release, but how ICB tension is controlled is unknown. Here, we report that caveolae, which are known to regulate membrane tension upon mechanical stress in interphase cells, are located at the midbody, at the abscission site, and at the ICB/cell interface in dividing cells. Functionally, the loss of caveolae delays ESCRT-III recruitment during cytokinesis and impairs abscission. This is the consequence of a twofold increase of ICB tension measured by laser ablation, associated with a local increase in myosin II activity at the ICB/cell interface. We thus propose that caveolae buffer membrane tension and limit contractibility at the ICB to promote ESCRT-III assembly and cytokinetic abscission. Together, this work reveals an unexpected connection between caveolae and the ESCRT machinery and the first role of caveolae in cell division.

The Abscission Checkpoint: A Guardian of Chromosomal Stability

The abscission checkpoint contributes to the fidelity of chromosome segregation by delaying completion of cytokinesis (abscission) when there is chromatin lagging in the intercellular bridge between dividing cells. Although additional triggers of an abscission checkpoint-delay have been described, including nuclear pore defects, replication stress or high intercellular bridge tension, this review will focus only on chromatin bridges. In the presence of such abnormal chromosomal tethers in mammalian cells, the abscission checkpoint requires proper localization and optimal kinase activity of the Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC)-catalytic subunit Aurora B at the midbody and culminates in the inhibition of Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport-III (ESCRT-III) components at the abscission site to delay the final cut. Furthermore, cells with an active checkpoint stabilize the narrow cytoplasmic canal that connects the two daughter cells until the chromatin bridges are resolved. Unsuccessful resolution of chromatin bridges in checkpoint-deficient cells or in cells with unstable intercellular canals can lead to chromatin bridge breakage or tetraploidization by regression of the cleavage furrow. In turn, these outcomes can lead to accumulation of DNA damage, chromothripsis, generation of hypermutation clusters and chromosomal instability, which are associated with cancer formation or progression. Recently, many important questions regarding the mechanisms of the abscission checkpoint have been investigated, such as how the presence of chromatin bridges is signaled to the CPC, how Aurora B localization and kinase activity is regulated in late midbodies, the signaling pathways by which Aurora B implements the abscission delay, and how the actin cytoskeleton is remodeled to stabilize intercellular canals with DNA bridges. Here, we review recent progress toward understanding the mechanisms of the abscission checkpoint and its role in guarding genome integrity at the chromosome level, and consider its potential implications for cancer therapy.