Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42115593›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Molecular anatomy of PLK1 master docking motifs.

Long Ren, Arianna Esposito-Verza, Raphael Gasper, Marion E Pesenti, Petra Janning, Franziska Müller, Carolin Koerner, Petra Geue, Sabine Wohlgemuth, Ingrid R Vetter and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Long RenDepartment of Mechanistic Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-4150-8682
Arianna Esposito-VerzaDepartment of Mechanistic Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.ORCID 0009-0004-9781-9561
Raphael GasperCrystallography and Biophysics Facility, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-7780-0773
Marion E PesentiDepartment of Mechanistic Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-3361-8133
Petra JanningMass Spectrometry Core Facility, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.
Franziska MüllerDepartment of Mechanistic Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-4880-9269
Carolin KoernerDepartment of Mechanistic Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.
Petra GeueCrystallography and Biophysics Facility, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.
Sabine WohlgemuthDepartment of Mechanistic Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.
Ingrid R VetterDepartment of Mechanistic Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.
Andrea MusacchioDepartment of Mechanistic Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany. andrea.musacchio@mpi-dortmund.mpg.de.ORCID 0000-0003-2362-8784

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) Collaborative Research Centre 1430EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council) Synergy Grant 951430 (BIOMECANET)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The Polo-box domain (PBD) localizes Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) near mitotic substrates required for chromosome biorientation. Recent work on mitotic kinetochores showed PLK1 docking begins hierarchically at master docking motifs on BUB1 and CENP-U. Whether master docking motifs have common molecular features remains poorly understood. Presence on CENP-U of two neighbouring motifs generated by initial CDK1 priming and subsequent PLK1 phosphorylation led us to hypothesize PBD dimerization might be involved. Using biochemical, biophysical, and modelling approaches, we gathered strong evidence that CENP-U contains a single master docking motif. The motif is very high affinity and sufficient to form extensive interactions with the PBD, engaging multiple pockets on its surface without obvious added benefits from dimerization. Comparisons with motifs in BUB1, BUBR1, and PRC1 suggest commonalities of master PLK1 docking motifs. We discuss the implications of our observations for the mechanism of PLK1 activation.

Indexed as

Cell Cycle ProteinsProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesProto-Oncogene ProteinsAmino Acid MotifsAmino Acid SequenceChromosomal Proteins, Non-HistoneHumansKinetochoresMitosisModels, MolecularPhosphorylationPolo-Like Kinase 1Protein BindingBUB1 protein, humanCell Cycle ProteinsChromosomal Proteins, Non-HistonePolo-Like Kinase 1Protein Serine-Threonine KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins

Identifiers

PMID42115593
PMCPMC13161223

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.