Midbody accumulation through evasion of autophagy contributes to cellular reprogramming and tumorige

Abstract

The midbody is a singular organelle formed between daughter cells during cytokinesis and required for their final separation. Midbodies persist in cells long after division as midbody derivatives (MBds), but their fate is unclear. Here we show that MBds are inherited asymmetrically by the daughter cell with the older centrosome. They selectively accumulate in stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and potential cancer ‘stem cells’ in vivo and in vitro. MBd loss accompanies stem-cell differentiation, and involves autophagic degradation mediated by binding of the autophagic receptor NBR1 to the midbody protein CEP55. Differentiating cells and normal dividing cells do not accumulate MBds and possess high autophagic activity. Stem cells and cancer cells accumulate MBds by evading autophagosome encapsulation and exhibit low autophagic activity. MBd enrichment enhances reprogramming to induced pluripotent stem cells and increases the in vitro tumorigenicity of cancer cells. These results indicate unexpected roles for MBds in stem cells and cancer ‘stem cells’. Doxsey and colleagues report that midbodies accumulate in stem cells, including induced pluripotent stem cells and potential cancer-initiating cells. Loss of midbodies accompanies stem-cell differentiation and is mediated through binding of the autophagy receptor NBR1 to the midbody protein CEP55. Downregulation of NBR1 is associated with enrichment of midbodies, enhanced reprogramming and increased tumorigenicity in cancer cells.

Cite this article

Kuo, TC., Chen, CT., Baron, D. et al. Midbody accumulation through evasion of autophagy contributes to cellular reprogramming and tumorigenicity. Nat Cell Biol 13, 1214–1223 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb2332

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