Miro-dependent mitochondrial pool of CENP-F and its farnesylated C-terminal domain are dispensable for normal development in mice

CENP-F is a large, microtubule-binding protein that regulates multiple cellular processes including chromosome segregation and mitochondrial trafficking at cytokinesis. This multiplicity of functions is mediated through the binding of various partners, like Bub1 at the kinetochore and Miro at mitochondria. Due to the multifunctionality of CENP-F, the cellular phenotypes observed upon its depletion are difficult to interpret and there is a need to genetically separate its different functions by preventing binding to selected partners. Here we engineer a CENP-F point-mutant that is deficient in Miro binding and thus is unable to localize to mitochondria, but retains other localizations. We introduce this mutation in cultured human cells using CRISPR/Cas9 system and show it causes a defect in mitochondrial spreading similar to that observed upon Miro depletion. We further create a mouse model carrying this CENP-F variant, as well as truncated CENP-F mutants lacking the farnesylated C-terminus of the protein. Importantly, one of these truncations leads to ~80% downregulation of CENP-F expression. We observe that, despite the phenotypes apparent in cultured cells, mutant mice develop normally. Taken together, these mice will serve as important models to study CENP-F biology at organismal level. In addition, because truncations of CENP-F in humans cause a lethal disease termed Strømme syndrome, they might also be relevant disease models.