@article{TikhonenkoMagidsonGraefetal.2013,
  author    = {Tikhonenko, Irina and Magidson, Valentin and Gr{\"a}f, Ralph and Khodjakov, Alexey and Koonce, Michael P.},
  title     = {A kinesin-mediated mechanism that couples centrosomes to nuclei},
  series = {Cellular and molecular life sciences},
  volume    = {70},
  journal   = {Cellular and molecular life sciences},
  number    = {7},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {1420-682X},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00018-012-1205-0},
  pages     = {1285 -- 1296},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {The M-type kinesin isoform, Kif9, has recently been implicated in maintaining a physical connection between the centrosome and nucleus in Dictyostelium discoideum. However, the mechanism by which Kif9 functions to link these two organelles remains obscure. Here we demonstrate that the Kif9 protein is localized to the nuclear envelope and is concentrated in the region underlying the centrosome point of attachment. Nuclear anchorage appears mediated through a specialized transmembrane domain located in the carboxyl terminus. Kif9 interacts with microtubules in in vitro binding assays and effects an endwise depolymerization of the polymer. These results suggest a model whereby Kif9 is anchored to the nucleus and generates a pulling force that reels the centrosome up against the nucleus. This is a novel activity for a kinesin motor, one important for progression of cells into mitosis and to ensure centrosome-nuclear parity in a multinuclear environment.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SamereierBaumannMeyeretal.2011,
  author    = {Samereier, Matthias and Baumann, Otto and Meyer, Irene and Gr{\"a}f, Ralph},
  title     = {Analysis of dictyostelium TACC reveals differential interactions with CP224 and unusual dynamics of dictyostelium microtubules},
  series = {Cellular and molecular life sciences},
  volume    = {68},
  journal   = {Cellular and molecular life sciences},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {1420-682X},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00018-010-0453-0},
  pages     = {275 -- 287},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {We have localized TACC to the microtubule-nucleating centrosomal corona and to microtubule plus ends. Using RNAi we proved that Dictyostelium TACC promotes microtubule growth during interphase and mitosis. For the first time we show in vivo that both TACC and XMAP215 family proteins can be differentially localized to microtubule plus ends during interphase and mitosis and that TACC is mainly required for recruitment of an XMAP215-family protein to interphase microtubule plus ends but not for recruitment to centrosomes and kinetochores. Moreover, we have now a marker to study dynamics and behavior of microtubule plus ends in living Dictyostelium cells. In a combination of live cell imaging of microtubule plus ends and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments of GFP-alpha-tubulin cells we show that Dictyostelium microtubules are dynamic only in the cell periphery, while they remain stable at the centrosome, which also appears to harbor a dynamic pool of tubulin dimers.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Grafe2019,
  author    = {Grafe, Marianne Erika},
  title     = {Analysis of supramolecular assemblies of NE81, the first lamin protein in a non-metazoan organism},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-44180},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-441802},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {V, 94},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Lamine sind Proteine an der inneren Kernh{\"u}lle und bilden zusammen mit verbundenen Proteinen die nukle{\"a}re Lamina. Dieses Netzwerk sorgt f{\"u}r die Stabilit{\"a}t des Zellkerns und unterst{\"u}tzt die Organisation des Zell-Zytoskeletts. Zus{\"a}tzlich sind Lamine und ihre verbundenen Proteine in viele Prozesse wie Genregulation und Zelldifferenzierung involviert. Bis 2012 war der Stand der Forschung, dass nur bei mehrzelligen Organismen eine nukle{\"a}re Lamina zu finden ist. NE81 ist das erste lamin-{\"a}hnliche Protein, das in einem nicht-mehrzelligen Organismus (Dictyostelium discoideum) entdeckt wurde. Es hat viele Eigenschaften und Strukturmerkmale mit Laminen gemeinsam. Dazu z{\"a}hlt der dreiteilige Aufbau des Proteins, eine Phosphorylierungsstelle f{\"u}r ein Zellzyklus-abh{\"a}ngiges Enzym, ein Kernlokalisationssignal, wodurch das Protein in den Kern transportiert wird, sowie eine C-terminale Sequenz zur Verankerung des Proteins in der Kernh{\"u}lle. In dieser Arbeit wurden verschiedene Methoden zur vereinfachten Untersuchung von Laminstrukturen getestet, um zu zeigen, dass sich NE81 wie bereits bekannte Lamin-Proteine verh{\"a}lt und supramolekulare Netzwerke aus Laminfilamenten bildet. Zur Analyse der Struktur supramolekularer Anordnungen wurde das Protein durch Entfernen des Kernlokalisationssignals auf der {\"a}ußeren Kernh{\"u}lle von Dictyostelium gebildet. Die anschließende Untersuchung der Oberfl{\"a}che der Kerne mit einem Rasterelektronenmikroskop zeigte, dass NE81 Strukturen in der Gr{\"o}ße von Laminen bildet, allerdings nicht in regelm{\"a}ßigen filament{\"o}sen Anordnungen. Um die Entstehung der Laminfilamente zu untersuchen, wurde l{\"o}sliches NE81 aus Dictyostelium aufgereinigt und mit verschiedenen mikroskopischen Methoden untersucht. Dabei wurde festgestellt, dass NE81 unter Niedrigsalz-Bedingungen d{\"u}nne, fadenf{\"o}rmige Strukturen und Netzwerke ausbildet, die denen von S{\"a}ugetier-Laminen sehr {\"a}hnlich sind. Die Mutation der Phosphorylierungsstelle von NE81 zu einer imitierenden dauerhaften Phosphorylierung von NE81 in der Zelle, zeigte zun{\"a}chst ein gel{\"o}stes Protein, das {\"u}berraschenderweise unter Blaulichtbestrahlung der Zelle wieder lamin-{\"a}hnliche Anordnungen formte. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigen, dass NE81 echte Laminstrukturen ausbilden kann und hebt Dictyostelium als Nicht-S{\"a}ugetier-Modellorganismus mit einer gut charakterisierten Kernh{\"u}lle, mit allen relevanten, aus tierischen Zellen bekannten Proteinen, hervor.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{PitzenAskarzadaGraefetal.2018,
  author    = {Pitzen, Valentin and Askarzada, Sophie and Gr{\"a}f, Ralph and Meyer, Irene},
  title     = {CDK5RAP2 Is an Essential Scaffolding Protein of the Corona of the Dictyostelium Centrosome},
  series = {Cells},
  volume    = {7},
  journal   = {Cells},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {2073-4409},
  doi       = {10.3390/cells7040032},
  pages     = {17},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Dictyostelium centrosomes consist of a nucleus-associated cylindrical, three-layered core structure surrounded by a corona consisting of microtubule-nucleation complexes embedded in a scaffold of large coiled-coil proteins. One of them is the conserved CDK5RAP2 protein. Here we focus on the role of Dictyostelium CDK5RAP2 for maintenance of centrosome integrity, its interaction partners and its dynamic behavior during interphase and mitosis. GFP-CDK5RAP2 is present at the centrosome during the entire cell cycle except from a short period during prophase, correlating with the normal dissociation of the corona at this stage. RNAi depletion of CDK5RAP2 results in complete disorganization of centrosomes and microtubules suggesting that CDK5RAP2 is required for organization of the corona and its association to the core structure. This is in line with the observation that overexpressed GFP-CDK5RAP2 elicited supernumerary cytosolic MTOCs. The phenotype of CDK5RAP2 depletion was very reminiscent of that observed upon depletion of CP148, another scaffolding protein of the corona. BioID interaction assays revealed an interaction of CDK5RAP2 not only with the corona markers CP148, gamma-tubulin, and CP248, but also with the core components Cep192, CP75, and CP91. Furthermore, protein localization studies in both depletion strains revealed that CP148 and CDK5RAP2 cooperate in corona organization.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{PitzenSanderBaumannetal.2021,
  author    = {Pitzen, Valentin and Sander, Sophia and Baumann, Otto and Gr{\"a}f, Ralph and Meyer, Irene},
  title     = {Cep192, a novel missing link between the centrosomal core and corona in Dictyostelium amoebae},
  series = {Cells : open access journal},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Cells : open access journal},
  number    = {9},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {2073-4409},
  doi       = {10.3390/cells10092384},
  pages     = {19},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {The Dictyostelium centrosome is a nucleus-associated body with a diameter of approx. 500 nm. It contains no centrioles but consists of a cylindrical layered core structure surrounded by a microtubule-nucleating corona. At the onset of mitosis, the corona disassembles and the core structure duplicates through growth, splitting, and reorganization of the outer core layers. During the last decades our research group has characterized the majority of the 42 known centrosomal proteins. In this work we focus on the conserved, previously uncharacterized Cep192 protein. We use superresolution expansion microscopy (ExM) to show that Cep192 is a component of the outer core layers. Furthermore, ExM with centrosomal marker proteins nicely mirrored all ultrastructurally known centrosomal substructures. Furthermore, we improved the proximity-dependent biotin identification assay (BioID) by adapting the biotinylase BioID2 for expression in Dictyostelium and applying a knock-in strategy for the expression of BioID2-tagged centrosomal fusion proteins. Thus, we were able to identify various centrosomal Cep192 interaction partners, including CDK5RAP2, which was previously allocated to the inner corona structure, and several core components. Studies employing overexpression of GFP-Cep192 as well as depletion of endogenous Cep192 revealed that Cep192 is a key protein for the recruitment of corona components during centrosome biogenesis and is required to maintain a stable corona structure.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kuhnert2012,
  author    = {Kuhnert, Oliver},
  title     = {Charakterisierung der neuen centrosomalen Proteine CP148 und CP55 in Dictyostelium discoideum},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-59949},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Das im Cytosol liegende Dictyostelium Centrosom ist aus einer geschichteten Core-Region aufgebaut, die von einer Mikrotubuli-nukleierenden Corona umgeben ist. Zudem ist es {\"u}ber eine spezifische Verbindung eng an den Kern gekn{\"u}pft und durch die Kernmembran hindurch mit den geclusterten Centromeren verbunden. Beim G2/M {\"U}bergang dissoziiert die Corona vom Centrosom und der Core verdoppelt sich so dass zwei Spindelpole entstehen. CP55 und CP148 wurden in einer Proteom-Analyse des Centrosoms identifiziert. CP148 ist ein neues coiled-coil Protein der centrosomalen Corona. Es zeigt eine zellzyklusabh{\"a}ngige An- und Abwesenheit am Centrosom, die mit der Dissoziation der Corona in der Prophase und ihrer Neubildung in der Telophase korreliert. W{\"a}hrend der Telophase erschienen in GFP-CP148 exprimierenden Zellen viele, kleine GFP-CP148-Foci im Cytoplasma, die zum Teil miteinander fusionierten und zum Centrosom wanderten. Daraus resultierte eine hypertrophe Corona in Zellen mit starker GFP-CP148 {\"U}berexpression. Ein Knockdown von CP148 durch RNAi f{\"u}hrte zu einem Verlust der Corona und einem ungeordneten Interphase Mikrotubuli-Cytoskelett. Die Bildung der mitotischen Spindel und der astralen Mikrotubuli blieb davon unbeeinflusst. Das bedeutet, dass die Mikrotubuli-Nukleationskomplexe w{\"a}hrend der Interphase und Mitose {\"u}ber verschiedene Wege mit dem Core assoziiert sind. Des Weiteren bewirkte der Knockdown eine Dispersion der Centromere sowie eine ver{\"a}nderte Sun1 Lokalisation in der Kernh{\"u}lle. Somit spielt CP148 ebenso eine Rolle in der Centrosomen-Centromer-Verbindung. Zusammengefasst ist CP148 ein essentielles Protein f{\"u}r die Bildung und Organisation der Corona, welche wiederum f{\"u}r die Centrosom/Centromer Verbindung ben{\"o}tigt wird. CP55 wurde als Protein der Core-Region identifiziert und verbleibt w{\"a}hrend des Zellzyklus am Centrosom. Dort besitzt es strukturelle Aufgaben, da die Mehrheit der GFP-CP55 Molek{\"u}le in der Interphase keine Mobilit{\"a}t zeigten. Die GFP-CP55 {\"U}berexpression f{\"u}hrte zur Bildung von {\"u}berz{\"a}hligen Centrosomen mit der {\"u}blichen Ausstattung an Markerproteinen der Corona und des Cores. CP55 Knockout-Zellen waren durch eine erh{\"o}hte Ploidie, eine weniger strukturierte und leicht vergr{\"o}ßerte Corona sowie zus{\"a}tzliche cytosolische Mikrotubuli-organisierende Zentren charakterisiert. Letztere entstanden in der Telophase und enthielten nur Corona- aber keine Core-Proteine. In CP55 k/o Zellen erfolgte die Rekrutierung des Corona-Organisators CP148 an den Spindelpol bereits in der fr{\"u}hen Metaphase anstatt, wie {\"u}blich, erst in der Telophase. Außerdem zeigten die Knockout-Zellen Wachstumsdefekte, deren Grund vermutlich Schwierigkeiten bei der Centrosomenverdopplung in der Prophase durch das Fehlen von CP55 waren. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus konnten die Knockout-Zellen phagozytiertes Material nicht verwerten, obwohl der Vorgang der Phagozytose nicht beeintr{\"a}chtigt war. Dieser Defekt kann dem im CP55 k/o auftretenden dispergierten Golgi-Apparat zugeschrieben werden.},
  language  = {de}
}
@article{MeyerPeterBatsiosetal.2017,
  author    = {Meyer, Irene and Peter, Tatjana and Batsios, Petros and Kuhnert, Oliver and Krueger-Genge, Anne and Camurca, Carl and Gr{\"a}f, Ralph},
  title     = {CP39, CP75 and CP91 are major structural components of the Dictyostelium},
  series = {European journal of cell biology},
  volume    = {96},
  journal   = {European journal of cell biology},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Jena},
  issn      = {0171-9335},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.eicb.2017.01.004},
  pages     = {119 -- 130},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {The acentriolar Dictyostelium centrosome is a nucleus-associated body consisting of a core structure with three plaque-like layers, which are surrounded by a microtubule-nucleating corona. The core duplicates once per cell cycle at the G2/M transition, whereby its central layer disappears and the two outer layers form the mitotic spindle poles. Through proteomic analysis of isolated centrosomes, we have identified CP39 and CP75, two essential components of the core structure. Both proteins can be assigned to the central core layer as their centrosomal presence is correlated to the disappearance and reappearance of the central core layer in the course of centrosome duplication. Both proteins contain domains with centrosome-binding activity in their N- and C-terminal halves, whereby the respective N-terminal half is required for cell cycle-dependent regulation. CP39 is capable of self-interaction and GFP-CP39 overexpression elicited supernumerary microtubule-organizing centers and pre-centrosomal cytosolic clusters. Underexpression stopped cell growth and reversed the MTOC amplification phenotype. In contrast, in case of CP75 underexpression of the protein by RNAi treatment elicited supernumerary MTOCs. In addition, CP75RNAi affects correct chromosome segregation and causes co-depletion of CP39 and CP91, another central core layer component. CP39 and CP75 interact with each other directly in a yeast two-hybrid assay. Furthermore, CP39, CP75 and CP91 mutually interact in a proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID) assay. Our data indicate that these three proteins are all required for proper centrosome biogenesis and make up the major structural components of core structure's central layer.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KuhnertBaumannMeyeretal.2012,
  author    = {Kuhnert, Oliver and Baumann, Otto and Meyer, Irene and Gr{\"a}f, Ralph},
  title     = {CP55, a novel key component of centrosomal organization in dictyostelium},
  series = {Cellular and molecular life sciences},
  volume    = {69},
  journal   = {Cellular and molecular life sciences},
  number    = {21},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {1420-682X},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00018-012-1040-3},
  pages     = {3651 -- 3664},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Dictyostelium centrosomes consist of a layered core structure surrounded by a microtubule-nucleating corona. At the G2/M transition, the corona dissociates and the core structure duplicates, yielding two spindle pole bodies. Finally, in telophase, the spindle poles mature into two new, complete centrosomes. CP55 was identified in a centrosomal proteome analysis. It is a component of the centrosomal core structure, and persists at the centrosome throughout the entire cell cycle. FRAP experiments revealed that during interphase the majority of centrosomal GFP-CP55 is immobile, which indicates a structural task of CP55 at the centrosome. The CP55null mutant is characterized by increased ploidy, a less structured, slightly enlarged corona, and by supernumerary, cytosolic MTOCs, containing only corona proteins and lacking a core structure. Live cell imaging showed that supernumerary MTOCs arise in telophase. Lack of CP55 also caused premature recruitment of the corona organizer CP148 to mitotic spindle poles, already in metaphase instead of telophase. Forces transmitted through astral microtubules may expel prematurely acquired or loosely attached corona fragments into the cytosol, where they act as independent MTOCs. CP55null cells were also impaired in growth, most probably due to difficulties in centrosome splitting during prophase. Furthermore, although they were still capable of phagocytosis, they appeared unable to utilize phagocytosed nutrients. This inability may be attributed to their partially disorganized Golgi apparatus.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{PutzlerMeyerGraef2016,
  author    = {Putzler, Sascha and Meyer, Irene and Gr{\"a}f, Ralph},
  title     = {CP91 is a component of the Dictyostelium centrosome involved in centrosome biogenesis},
  series = {European journal of cell biology},
  volume    = {95},
  journal   = {European journal of cell biology},
  publisher = {Royal Society},
  address   = {Jena},
  issn      = {0171-9335},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.ejcb.2016.03.001},
  pages     = {124 -- 135},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {The Dictyostelium centrosome is a model for acentriolar centrosomes and it consists of a three-layered core structure surrounded by a corona harboring microtubule nucleation complexes. Its core structure duplicates once per cell cycle at the G2/M transition. Through proteomic analysis of isolated centrosomes we have identified CP91, a 91-kDa coiled coil protein that was localized at the centrosomal core structure. While GFP-CP91 showed almost no mobility in FRAP experiments during interphase, both GFP-CP91 and endogenous CP91 dissociated during mitosis and were absent from spindle poles from late prophase to anaphase. Since this behavior correlates with the disappearance of the central layer upon centrosome duplication, CP91 is a putative component of this layer. When expressed as GFP-fusions, CP91 fragments corresponding to the central coiled coil domain and the preceding N-terminal part (GFP-CP91cc and GFP-CP91N, respectively) also localized to the centrosome but did not show the mitotic redistribution of the full length protein suggesting a regulatory role of the C-terminal domain. Expression of all GFP-fusion proteins suppressed expression of endogenous CP91 and elicited supernumerary centrosomes. This was also very prominent upon depletion of CP91 by RNAi. Additionally, CP91-RNAi cells exhibited heavily increased ploidy due to severe defects in chromosome segregation along with increased cell size and defects in the abscission process during cytokinesis. Our results indicate that CP91 is a central centrosomal core component required for centrosomal integrity, proper centrosome biogenesis and, independently, for abscission during cytokinesis. (c) 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KoonceTikhonenkoGraef2020,
  author    = {Koonce, Michael and Tikhonenko, Irina and Gr{\"a}f, Ralph},
  title     = {Dictyostelium cell fixation},
  series = {Methods and protocols},
  volume    = {3},
  journal   = {Methods and protocols},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {2409-9279},
  doi       = {10.3390/mps3030047},
  pages     = {6},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {We share two simple modifications to enhance the fixation and imaging of relatively small, motile, and rounded model cells. These include cell centrifugation and the addition of trace amounts of glutaraldehyde to existing fixation methods. Though they need to be carefully considered in each context, they have been useful to our studies of the spatial relationships of the microtubule cytoskeletal system.},
  language  = {en}
}