UNC-83 coordinates kinesin-1 and dynein activities at the nuclear envelope during nuclear migration.

摘要

Nuclei migrate during many events, including fertilization, establishment of polarity, differentiation, and cell division. The Caenorhabditis elegans KASH protein UNC-83 localizes to the outer nuclear membrane where it recruits kinesin-1 to provide the major motor activity required for nuclear migration in embryonic hyp7 cells. Here we show that UNC-83 also recruits two dynein-regulating complexes to the cytoplasmic face of the nucleus that play a regulatory role. One consists of the NudE homolog NUD-2 and the NudF/Lis1/Pac1 homolog LIS-1, and the other includes dynein light chain DLC-1, the BicaudalD homolog BICD-1, and the Egalitarian homologue EGAL-1. Genetic disruption of any member of these two complexes caused nuclear migration defects that were enhanced in some double mutant animals, suggesting that BICD-1 and EGAL-1 function in parallel to NUD-2. Dynein heavy chain mutant animals also had a nuclear migration defect, suggesting these complexes function through dynein. Deletion analysis indicated that independent domains of UNC-83 interact with kinesin and dynein. These data suggest a model where UNC-83 acts as the cargo-specific adaptor between the outer nuclear membrane and the microtubule motors kinesin-1 and dynein. Kinesin-1 functions as the major force generator during nuclear migration, while dynein is involved in regulation of bidirectional transport of the nucleus.