Anillin mediates unilateral furrowing during cytokinesis by limiting RhoA binding to its effectors

Lebedev M, Chan FY, Rackles E, Bellessem J, Mikeladze-Dvali T, Carvalho AX, Zanin E (2025)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

The Journal of Cell Biology Rockefeller University Press

Book Volume: 224

URI: https://rupress.org/jcb/article-abstract/224/6/e202405182/277406/Anillin-mediates-unilateral-furrowing-during?redirectedFrom=fulltext

DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202405182

Abstract

During unilateral furrow ingression, one side of the cytokinetic ring (leading edge) ingresses before the opposite side (lagging edge). Anillin mediates unilateral furrowing during cytokinesis in the one-cell C. elegans zygote by limiting myosin II accumulation in the ring. Here, we address the role of anillin in this process and show that anillin inhibits not only the accumulation of myosin II but also of other RhoA effectors by binding and blocking the RhoA effector site. The interaction between the anillin’s RhoA-binding domain (RBD) and active RhoA is enhanced by the disordered linker region and differentially regulated at the leading and lagging edge, which together results in asymmetric RhoA signaling and accumulation of myosin II. In summary, we discover a RhoA GEF- and GAP-independent mechanism, where RhoA activity is limited by anillin binding to the RhoA effector site. Spatial fine-tuning of anillin’s inhibitory role on RhoA signaling enables unilateral furrow ingression and contributes to animal development.

Authors with CRIS profile

Mikhail Lebedev Professur für Experimentelle Molekulare Zelldynamik Esther Zanin Professur für Experimentelle Molekulare Zelldynamik

Involved external institutions

Universidade do Porto PT Portugal (PT) Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Lebedev, M., Chan, F.-Y., Rackles, E., Bellessem, J., Mikeladze-Dvali, T., Carvalho, A.X., & Zanin, E. (2025). Anillin mediates unilateral furrowing during cytokinesis by limiting RhoA binding to its effectors. The Journal of Cell Biology, 224. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202405182

MLA:

Lebedev, Mikhail, et al. "Anillin mediates unilateral furrowing during cytokinesis by limiting RhoA binding to its effectors." The Journal of Cell Biology 224 (2025).

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