Ki-67 shapes the nucleolus by anchoring chromatin via its amphiphilic properties

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Daja Schichler - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Yuki Hayashi - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg (Author)
  • Letitia Fernandez - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Mariam Chupanova - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg (Author)
  • Alberto Hernandez-Armendariz - , Clusters of Excellence PoL: Physics of Life, Chair of Cell and Tissue Control (PoL), European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Beate Neumann - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg (Author)
  • Sara Cuylen-Haering - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg (Author)

Abstract

The nucleolus, a membrane-less organelle essential for ribosome biogenesis, adopts variable shapes across cell types and in response to environmental conditions, yet the mechanisms regulating its morphology and functional implications remain unclear. Using a high-throughput screen, we identify the proliferation marker Ki-67 as a central regulator of nucleolar shape. Ki-67 localises to the chromatin-nucleolus interface, where its depletion induces nucleolar rounding and reduces chromatin enrichment both at the nucleolar rim and within internal invaginations. This effect is driven by Ki-67’s amphiphilic properties conferred by two distinct affinity domains separated by a spacer. Given that chromatin loss is a common feature of rounded nucleoli in our screen, and acute chromatin digestion also induces rounding, we propose that the chromatin environment in and around the nucleolus plays a key role in determining nucleolar shape. Our study elucidates a novel Ki-67-mediated chromatin anchoring mechanism, tightly linking nucleolar shape to genome organisation and expanding our understanding of condensate morphology.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3156-3191
Number of pages36
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume45
Issue number9
Early online date24 Mar 2026
Publication statusPublished - 5 May 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 41876741

Keywords

Keywords

  • Amphiphilic properties, Biomolecular condensates, Heterochromatin, Ki-67, Nucleolus