Aurora A, meiosis and mitosis.
The Aurora family kinases are pivotal to the successful execution of cell division. Together they ensure the formation of a bipolar mitotic spindle, accurate segregation of chromosomes and the completion of cytokinesis. They are also attractive drug targets, being frequently deregulated in cancer and able to transform cells in vitro. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about the three family members, Aur-A, Aur-B and Aur-C. We then focus on Aur-A, its roles in mitotic progression, and its emerging roles in checkpoint control pathways. Aur-A activity can be controlled at several levels, including phosphorylation, ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis and interaction with both positive regulators, such as TPX2, and negative ones, like the tumor suppressor protein p53. In addition, work in Xenopus oocytes and early embryos has revealed a second role for Aur-A, directing the polyadenylation-dependent translation of specific mRNAs important for cell cycle progression. This function extends to post-mitotic neurons, and perhaps even to cycling somatic cells.
Crane
Richard
R
Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Gadea
Bedrick
B
Littlepage
Laurie
L
Wu
Hua
H
Ruderman
Joan V
JV
D000818:Animals; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008540:Meiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000494:pharmacology; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; C112134:AURKA protein, Xenopus; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases