Getting out of mitosis: spatial and temporal control of mitotic exit and cytokinesis by PP1 and PP2A

Here, we will review the evidence showing that mitotic exit is initiated by regulated proteolysis and then driven by the PPP family of phosphoserine/threonine phosphatases. Rapid APC / C CDC 20 and ubiquitin‐dependent proteolysis of cyclin B and securin initiates sister chromatid separation, the first step of mitotic exit. Because proteolysis of Aurora and Polo family kinases dependent on APC / C CDH 1 is relatively slow, this creates a new regulatory state, anaphase, different to G2 and M‐phase. We will discuss how the CDK 1‐counteracting phosphatases PP 1 and PP 2A‐B55, together with Aurora and Polo kinases, contribute to the temporal regulation and order of events in the different stages of mitotic exit from anaphase to cytokinesis. For PP 2A‐B55, these timing properties are created by the ENSA ‐dependent inhibitory pathway and differential recognition of phosphoserine and phosphothreonine. Finally, we will discuss how Aurora B and PP 2A‐B56 are needed for the spatial regulation of anaphase spindle formation and how APC /C‐dependent destruction of PLK 1 acts as a timer for abscission, the final event of cytokinesis.