Preprint Highlight: Interphase microtubule disassembly is a signaling cue that drives cell rounding at mitotic entry.

Abstract

Metaphase cell rounding is an important step during cell division; however, the cell cycle regulation of the ezrin, radixin, and moesin (ERM) proteins which drive cell rounding is not well understood. Using a small molecule screen, the authors unexpectedly found that microtubule disassembly activates ERM proteins and cell rounding. The authors determined that microtubule disassembly acts as a cell cycle signal to activate ERM proteins via GEF-H1 and the kinase SLK. This new model suggests that as cells transition from interphase to metaphase, the observed change in microtubule dynamics is not only important for spindle assembly but also helps drive cortical actomyosin remodeling to enable cell rounding.