cDNA isolation, characterization, and protein intracellular localization of a katanin-like p60 subunit from Arabidopsis thaliana

Katanin, a heterodimeric protein with ATP-dependent microtubule-severing activity, localizes to the centrosome in animal cells. Widespread occurrence is suspected as several species contain homologs to the katanin p60 subunit. Recently we isolated an Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA with significant identity to the p60 subunit of sea urchin katanin. Like p60, the encoded protein is a member of the AAA superfamily of ATPases, containing the Walker ATP binding consensus and the signature AAA minimal consensus sequences within a single larger AAA/CAD amino acid motif. Phylogenetic analysis placed the encoded protein in the AAA subfamily of cytoskeleton-interactive proteins, where it formed a strongly supported clade with 4 other members identified as katanin p60 subunits. The clone was named AtKSS (Arabidopsis thaliana katanin-like protein small subunit). Western blots, performed using a polyclonal antibody raised against recombinant AtKSS, revealed AtKSS is present in protein extracts of all Arabidopsis organs examined. To evaluate potential interactions between AtKSS and the cytoskeleton, the intracellular localization of AtKSS was correlated with that of tubulin. AtKSS was found in perinuclear regions during interphase, surrounding the spindle poles during mitosis, but was absent from the preprophase hand and phragmoplast microtubule arrays. These data support the thesis that AtKSS is an Arabidopsis homolog of the p60 subunit of katanin. Its cell cycle-dependent distribution is consistent with microtubule-severing activity, but additional studies will better define its role.