Aurora-C and Aurora-B share phosphorylation and regulation of CENP-A and Borealin during mitosis.
Aurora-B and -C kinases are members of the Aurora serine/threonine kinase family of mitotic regulators. Aurora-B kinase is evolutionarily conserved from yeast to humans and has multiple functions in chromosome condensation, cohesion, biorientation and in cytokinesis. In contrast, Aurora-C kinase has only been found in mammals, is upregulated in some tumor cell lines and tissues, and has a unique physiological role in spermiogenesis. Despite these known functions, little is known about the function of Aurora-C in mitosis. We have found that Aurora-C interacts with Borealin in addition to the other known members of the Aurora-B chromosomal passenger complex (CPC). We have also found that Aurora-C, like Aurora-B, phosphorylates the centromeric histone Centromere Protein-A (CENP-A) and Borealin in vitro. These molecular mechanisms are consistent with our observation that in the absence of Aurora-B, Aurora-C is sufficient for proper mitotic phosphorylation of CENP-A and centromeric localization of the CPC proteins. Thus, Aurora-C shares Aurora-B substrates and is capable of performing mitotic functions previously attributed only to Aurora-B.
Slattery
Scott D
SD
Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Moore
Rebecca V
RV
Brinkley
Bill R
BR
Hall
Rebecca M
RM
D064107:Aurora Kinase B; D064108:Aurora Kinase C; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002503:Centromere / Q000502:physiology; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism*; D020090:Chromosome Segregation / Q000502:physiology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
D001324:Autoantigens; C490157:CDCA8 protein, human; C000619700:CENPA protein, human; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; C576921:AURKB protein, human; C576927:AURKC protein, human; D064107:Aurora Kinase B; D064108:Aurora Kinase C; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases