Aurora kinases link chromosome segregation and cell division to cancer susceptibility.
Aurora kinases play critical roles in chromosome segregation and cell division. They are implicated in the centrosome cycle, spindle assembly, chromosome condensation, microtubule-kinetochore attachment, the spindle checkpoint and cytokinesis. Aurora kinases are regulated through phosphorylation, the binding of specific partners and ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. Several Aurora substrates have been identified and their roles are being elucidated. The deregulation of Aurora kinases impairs spindle assembly, checkpoint function and cell division, causing missegregation of individual chromosomes or polyploidization accompanied by centrosome amplification. Aurora kinases are frequently overexpressed in cancers and the identification of Aurora A as a cancer-susceptibility gene provides a strong link between mitotic errors and carcinogenesis.
Meraldi
Patrick
P
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Biology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Honda
Reiko
R
Nigg
Erich A
EA
D064127:Aurora Kinases; D002455:Cell Division; D020090:Chromosome Segregation / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D008938:Mitosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases