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The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) ensures mitotic exit occurs only after sister chromatid biorientation, but how this coordination is mechanistically achieved remains unclear. Kinetochores, the megadalton complexes linking chromosomes to spindle microtubules, contribute to SAC signaling. However, whether they act solely as docking platforms or actively promote the co-orientation of SAC catalysts such as MAD1:MAD2 and BUB1:BUB3 remains unresolved. Here, we reconstitute kinetochores and SAC signaling in vitro to address this question. We engineer recombinant kinetochore particles that recruit core SAC components and trigger checkpoint signaling upon Rapamycin induction, and test their function using a panel of targeted mutants. At approximately physiological concentrations of SAC proteins, kinetochores are essential for efficient mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC) assembly, the key effector of SAC signaling. Our results suggest that kinetochores serve not only as structural hubs but also as catalytic platforms that concentrate and spatially organize SAC components to accelerate MCC formation and ensure timely checkpoint activation. The spindle assembly checkpoint protects cells from chromosome missegregation. Here, the authors use sophisticated biochemical reconstitutions to address how kinetochores, the microtubule-binding structures of chromosomes, regulate this checkpoint.

The nuclear envelope has to be reformed after mitosis to create viable daughter cells with closed nuclei. How membrane sealing of DNA and assembly of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are achieved and coordinated is poorly understood. Here, we reconstructed nuclear membrane topology and the structures of assembling NPCs in a correlative 3D EM time course of dividing human cells. Our quantitative ultrastructural analysis shows that nuclear membranes form from highly fenestrated ER sheets whose holes progressively shrink. NPC precursors are found in small membrane holes and dilate radially during assembly of the inner ring complex, forming thousands of transport channels within minutes. This mechanism is fundamentally different from that of interphase NPC assembly and explains how mitotic cells can rapidly establish a closed nuclear compartment while making it transport competent.

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) makes mitotic exit contingent on completion of sister chromatid biorientation, but how this coordination is achieved in practice remains poorly understood. Kinetochores, megadalton chromosome attachment sites to spindle microtubules, contribute to SAC signaling. However, it is unclear whether kinetochores are mere docking sites for SAC proteins, or further contribute to co-orientation of SAC catalysts, including MAD1:MAD2 and BUB1:BUB3, to facilitate SAC signaling. Here, we combined biochemical reconstitutions of kinetochores and the SAC to address this question in vitro. We engineered recombinant kinetochore particles that recruit most SAC components and activate SAC signaling after induction with Rapamycin, and challenged them with a battery of impairing mutants. At approximately physiological concentrations of SAC catalysts, kinetochores were crucially required for rapid assembly of the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC), the SAC effector. Our observations depict kinetochores as a cradle that catalyzes rapid MCC assembly by concentrating and co-orienting distinct SAC catalysts.

The nuclear envelope has to be reformed after mitosis to create viable daughter cells with closed nuclei. How membrane sealing of DNA and assembly of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are achieved and coordinated is poorly understood. Here, we reconstructed nuclear membrane topology and structure of assembling NPCs in a correlative three dimensional electron microscopy time-course of dividing human cells. Our quantitative ultrastructural analysis shows that nuclear membranes form from highly fenestrated ER sheets, whose shrinking holes are stabilized and then dilated into NPCs during inner ring complex assembly, forming thousands of transport channels within minutes. This mechanism is fundamentally different from interphase NPC assembly and explains how mitotic cells can rapidly establish a closed nuclear compartment while making it transport-competent at the same time.

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) is an endogenous anti-inflammatory protein implicated in cancer. ANXA1 was previously shown to be regulated by hsa-miR-196a. However, whether ANXA1 itself regulates microRNA (miR) expression is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the regulation of miR by ANXA1 in MCF7 breast cancer cells. MCF7-EV (Empty vector) and MCF7-V5 (ANXA1-V5 expressing cells) were subjected to a miR microarray. Microarray analysis revealed a number of miRNAs which were dysregulated in MCF7-V5 cells. 2 novel miRNAs (miR562 and miR26b*) were validated, cloned and functionally characterized. As ANXA1 constitutively activates NF-κB activity to modulate breast cancer metastasis, we found that miR26b* and miR562 directly targeted the canonical NF-κB pathway by targeting the 3' UTR and inhibiting expression of Rel A (p65) and NF-κB1 (p105) respectively. MiR562 inhibited wound healing, which was reversed when ANXA1 was overexpressed. Overexpression of either miR562 or miR26b* in MCF-7 cells enhanced endothelial tube formation when cocultured with human umbilical cord endothelial cells while conversely, treatment of MCF7 cells with either anti-miR562 or anti-miR26b* inhibited endothelial tube formation after co-culture. Further analysis of miR562 revealed that miR562-transfected cell conditioned media enhances endothelial cell tube formation, indicating that miR562 increased angiogenic secreted factors from MCF-7 breast tumor cells. TNFα was increased upon overexpression of miR562, which was reversed when ANXA1 was co-transfected In conclusion, this data suggests that ANXA1-regulated miR26b* and miR562 may play a role in wound healing and tumor-induced endothelial cell tube formation by targeting NF-κB expression and point towards a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.

A series of quinoline-based heterocycles prepared and bioevaluated for their possible antimicrobial activity against a panel of gram-positive bacteria [ Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC-9144) and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC-6633)] and gram-negative bacteria [ Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC-25615), and Escherichia coli (MTCC-739)], and fungal strains [C andida albicans (ATCC-24433), Aspergillus niger (MTCC-872), and Aspergillus fumigatus (MTCC-343)] by the known methods. All the prepared quinoline derivatives have shown significant antimicrobial activities. Few compounds, viz. 4b , 4c and 4a , 4c proved to be active at low concentrations against Sa and Ca, respectively, while compounds 4a , 6d , and 6b showed milder inhibitory effects against other microbes. The structures of newly synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, Infrared (IR), 1 HNMR, 13 C-NMR and Mass-spectroscopy.

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) is an endogenous anti-inflammatory protein implicated in cancer. ANXA1 was previously shown to be regulated by hsa-miR-196a. However, whether ANXA1 itself regulates microRNA (miR) expression is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the regulation of miR by ANXA1 in MCF7 breast cancer cells. MCF7-EV (Empty vector) and MCF7-V5 (ANXA1-V5 expressing cells) were subjected to a miR microarray. Microarray analysis revealed a number of miRNAs which were dysregulated in MCF7-V5 cells. 2 novel miRNAs (miR562 and miR26b*) were validated, cloned and functionally characterized. As ANXA1 constitutively activates NF-[kappa]B activity to modulate breast cancer metastasis, we found that miR26b* and miR562 directly targeted the canonical NF-[kappa]B pathway by targeting the 3' UTR and inhibiting expression of Rel A (p65) and NF-[kappa]B1 (p105) respectively. MiR562 inhibited wound healing, which was reversed when ANXA1 was overexpressed. Overexpression of either miR562 or miR26b* in MCF-7 cells enhanced endothelial tube formation when cocultured with human umbilical cord endothelial cells while conversely, treatment of MCF7 cells with either anti-miR562 or anti-miR26b* inhibited endothelial tube formation after co-culture. Further analysis of miR562 revealed that miR562-transfected cell conditioned media enhances endothelial cell tube formation, indicating that miR562 increased angiogenic secreted factors from MCF-7 breast tumor cells. TNF[alpha] was increased upon overexpression of miR562, which was reversed when ANXA1 was co-transfected In conclusion, this data suggests that ANXA1-regulated miR26b* and miR562 may play a role in wound healing and tumor-induced endothelial cell tube formation by targeting NF-[kappa]B expression and point towards a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.