Aurora-A: the maker and breaker of spindle poles.
The gene encoding the Aurora-A protein kinase is located in the 20q13 breast cancer amplicon and is also overexpressed in colorectal, pancreatic and gastric tumours. Although Aurora-A may not be a bona fide oncoprotein in humans, it is a promising drug target in cancer therapy. Thus, it is surprising that so little is known of its role in normal cells. The primary function of Aurora-A is to promote bipolar spindle assembly, but the molecular details of this process remained obscure until recently. The discovery of several novel Aurora-A-binding proteins and substrates has implicated Aurora-A in centrosome maturation and separation, acentrosomal and centrosomal spindle assembly, kinetochore function, cytokinesis and in cell fate determination. Here we discuss recent advances in determining the early mitotic role of Aurora-A, with a strong emphasis on its function at the mitotic spindle poles.
Barr
Alexis R
AR
Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK.
Gergely
Fanni
F
D000818:Animals; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018385:Centrosome / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis; D010641:Phenotype; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases