Identification of a cytosol-to-nucleus feedback loop that regulates neuronal microtubule nucleation

Maintenance of the microtubule cytoskeleton is critical for long-term neuronal function. From a deficiency screen in Drosophila larvae, we identified the spindle matrix (SM) protein Skeletor as a regulator of microtubule dynamics in dendrites. With other SM components, Chromator and Megator, Skeletor controls the expression of γTubulin, the core microtubule-nucleating protein, in neurons. Surprisingly, the SM proteins localize to different places in neurons: Megator to nuclear pores, Chromator to the nucleus, and Skeletor to the cytoplasm and nucleus. To test whether they function to sense and regulate microtubule dynamics across cellular compartments, we increased microtubule dynamics and monitored nuclear Chromator. When microtubule dynamics was increased, Chromator levels in the nucleus were reduced in a manner depending on Skeletor and Megator. Moreover, the overexpression of Chromator was sufficient to increase γTubulin and microtubule dynamics. We propose that Skeletor and Megator communicate changes in the microtubule state to Chromator in the nucleus as part of a negative feedback loop that regulates microtubule nucleation.