The spindle checkpoint requires cyclin-dependent kinase activity
D'Angiolella V., Mari C., Nocera D., Rametti L., Grieco D.
The spindle checkpoint prevents anaphase onset until completion of mitotic spindle assembly by restraining activation of the ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome-Cdc20 (APC/CCdc20). We show that the spindle checkpoint requires mitotic cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) activity. Inhibiting cdk activity overrides checkpoint-dependent arrest in Xenopus egg extracts and human cells. Following inhibition, the interaction between APC/C and Cdc20 transiently increases while the inhibitory checkpoint protein Mad2 dissociates from Cdc20. Cdk inhibition also overcomes Mad2-induced mitotic arrest. In addition, in vitro cdk1-phosphorylated Cdc20 interacts with Mad2 rather than APC/C. Thus, cdk activity is required to restrain APC/C Cdc20 activation until completion of spindle assembly.