In many eukaryotes, cytokinesis requires the assembly and constriction of an actomyosin-based contractile ring. Despite the central role of this ring in cytokinesis, the mechanism of F-actin assembly and accumulation in the ring is not fully understood. In this paper, we investigate the mechanism of F-actin assembly during cytokinesis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe using lifeact as a probe to monitor actin dynamics. Previous work has shown that F-actin in the actomyosin ring is assembled de novo at the division site. Surprisingly, we find that a significant fraction of F-actin in the ring was recruited from formin-Cdc12p nucleated long actin cables that were generated at multiple nonmedial locations and incorporated into the ring by a combination of myosin II and myosin V activities. Our results, together with findings in animal cells, suggest that de novo F-actin assembly at the division site and directed transport of F-actin cables assembled elsewhere can contribute to ring assembly.

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Correct positioning of the cell division machinery is crucial for genomic stability and cell fate determination. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, like animal cells, divides using an actomyosin ring and is an attractive model to study eukaryotic cytokinesis. In S. pombe, positioning of the actomyosin ring depends on the anillin-related protein Mid1p. Mid1p arrives first at the medial cortex and recruits actomyosin ring components to node-like structures, although how this is achieved is unknown. Here we show that the IQGAP-related protein Rng2p, an essential component of the actomyosin ring, is a key element downstream of Mid1p. Rng2p physically interacts with Mid1p and is required for the organization of other actomyosin ring components into cortical nodes. Failure of localization of Rng2p to the nodes prevents medial retention of Mid1p and leads to actomyosin ring assembly in a node-independent manner at nonmedial locations. We conclude that Mid1p recruits Rng2p to cortical nodes at the division site and that Rng2p, in turn, recruits other components of the actomyosin ring to cortical nodes, thereby ensuring correct placement of the division site.