Phosphorylation of luminal region of the SUN-domain protein Mps3 promotes nuclear envelope localization during meiosis

During meiosis, protein ensembles in the nuclear envelope (NE) containing SUN- and KASH-domain proteins, called linker nucleocytoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex, promote chromosome motion. How LINC complexes acquire the meiotic property is largely unknown. Here we showed that cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK) and Dbf4-dependent Cdc7 protein kinase (DDK) promote proper meiosis-specific localization of yeast SUN-domain protein Mps3 on NE and control force-dependent movement of chromosomes during meiosis. We also found a NE luminal region of Mps3 juxtaposed to inner nuclear membrane (INM) is required for meiosis-specific localization of Mps3 on NE. Negative charges introduced by meiosis-specific non-canonical phosphorylation of the luminal region of Mps3 changes its interaction with INM, which may induce NE localization by promoting the formation of a canonical LINC complex with Mps3. Our study reveals unique phosphorylation-dependent regulation on the localization and function of Mps3 protein in meiotic NE remodeling.