Aurora A kinase (AURKA) in normal and pathological cell division

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2013 Feb;70(4):661-87. doi: 10.1007/s00018-012-1073-7. Epub 2012 Aug 3.

Abstract

Temporally and spatially controlled activation of the Aurora A kinase (AURKA) regulates centrosome maturation, entry into mitosis, formation and function of the bipolar spindle, and cytokinesis. Genetic amplification and mRNA and protein overexpression of Aurora A are common in many types of solid tumor, and associated with aneuploidy, supernumerary centrosomes, defective mitotic spindles, and resistance to apoptosis. These properties have led Aurora A to be considered a high-value target for development of cancer therapeutics, with multiple agents currently in early-phase clinical trials. More recently, identification of additional, non-mitotic functions and means of activation of Aurora A during interphase neurite elongation and ciliary resorption have significantly expanded our understanding of its function, and may offer insights into the clinical performance of Aurora A inhibitors. Here we review the mitotic and non-mitotic functions of Aurora A, discuss Aurora A regulation in the context of protein structural information, and evaluate progress in understanding and inhibiting Aurora A in cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aurora Kinase A
  • Aurora Kinases
  • Cell Division*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Interaction Maps
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / chemistry
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • AURKA protein, human
  • Aurora Kinase A
  • Aurora Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases