Late mitotic functions of Aurora kinases.
The coordination between late mitotic events such as poleward chromosome motion, spindle elongation, DNA decondensation, and nuclear envelope reformation (NER) is crucial for the completion of chromosome segregation at the anaphase-telophase transition. Mitotic exit is driven by a decrease of Cdk1 kinase activity and an increase of PP1/PP2A phosphatase activities. More recently, Aurora kinases have also emerged as master regulators of late mitotic events and cytokinesis. Aurora A is mainly associated with spindle poles throughout mitosis and midbody during telophase, whereas Aurora B re-localizes from centromeres in early mitosis to the spindle midzone and midbody as cells progress from anaphase to the completion of cytokinesis. Functional studies, together with the identification of a phosphorylation gradient during anaphase, established Aurora B as a major player in the organization of the spindle midzone and in the spatiotemporal coordination between chromosome segregation and NER. Aurora A has been less explored, but a cooperative role in spindle midzone stability has also been proposed, implying that both Aurora A and B contribute to accurate chromosome segregation during mitotic exit. Here, we review the roles of the Aurora kinases in the regulation of late mitotic events and discuss how they work together with other mitotic players to ensure an error-free mitosis.
Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.|Chromosome Instability & Dynamics Laboratory, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto - i3S, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
Olga
O
Afonso
Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.|Chromosome Instability & Dynamics Laboratory, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto - i3S, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
Ana C
AC
Figueiredo
Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal. maiato@ibmc.up.pt.|Chromosome Instability & Dynamics Laboratory, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto - i3S, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal. maiato@ibmc.up.pt.|Cell Division Unit, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal. maiato@ibmc.up.pt.
Helder
H
Maiato
D000818:Animals; D064127:Aurora Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D059748:Proteolysis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity
D064127:Aurora Kinases
Gradient; Kinase; Mitosis; Mitotic exit; Nuclear envelope; Spindle midzone