Msd1–Wdr8 are delivered by Pkl1 to mitotic spindle pole bodies, where the Msd1–Wdr8–Pkl1 complex anchors the minus ends of spindle microtubules and antagonizes the outward-pushing forces generated by Cut7/kinesin-5 in fission yeast.

A microtubule nucleator γ-tubulin forms a multiprotein complex (γ-tubulin complex or γ-TuC), which localizes to the microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs). We identify fission yeast Mzt1/MOZART1 as a novel conserved stoichiometric component of the γ-TuC. Mzt1 is required for cell viability, microtubule organization, and γ-TuC localization to the MTOCs, yet the core γ-TuC assembles in its absence.