Nucleophosmin/B23 is a target of CDK2/Cyclin E in centrosome duplication

In animal cells, duplication of centrosomes and DNA is coordinated. Since C DK2/cyclin E triggers initiation of both events, activation of CDK2/cyclin E is thought to link these two events. We identified nucleophosmin (NPM/B23 ) as a substrate of CDK2/cyclin E in centrosome duplication. NPM/B23 associ ates specifically with unduplicated centrosomes, and NPM/B23 dissociates fr om centrosomes by CDK2/cyclin E-mediated phosphorylation. An anti-NPM/B23 a ntibody, which blocks this phosphorylation, suppresses the initiation of ce ntrosome duplication in vivo. Moreover, expression of a nonphosphorylatable mutant NPM/ B23 in cells effectively blocks centrosome duplication. Thus, NPM/B23 is a target of CDK2/cyclin E in the initiation of centrosome duplic ation.