The LKB1 tumor suppressor controls spindle orientation and localization of activated AMPK in mitotic epithelial cells

Chongjuan Wei, Varun Kumar Bhattaram, John C. Igwe, Elizabeth Fleming, Jennifer S. Tirnauer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Orientation of mitotic spindles plays an integral role in determining the relative positions of daughter cells in a tissue. LKB1 is a tumor suppressor that controls cell polarity, metabolism, and microtubule stability. Here, we show that germline LKB1 mutation in mice impairs spindle orientation in cells of the upper gastrointestinal tract and causes dramatic mislocalization of the LKB1 substrate AMPK in mitotic cells. RNAi of LKB1 causes spindle misorientation in three-dimensional MDCK cell cysts. Maintaining proper spindle orientation, possibly mediated by effects on the downstream kinase AMPK, could be an important tumor suppressor function of LKB1.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere41118
JournalPloS one
Volume7
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 18 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  • General

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