Article
- The EMBO Journal (2008) 27, 2567 - 2579
- doi:10.1038/emboj.2008.173
Published online: 28 August 2008
Subject Categories:
Dissecting the role of Aurora A during spindle assembly
Teresa Sardon1, Isabel Peset1, Boryana Petrova1,a and Isabelle Vernos1
- Cell and Developmental Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), UPF, Barcelona, Spain
Correspondence to:
Isabelle Vernos, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), UPF, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 8003, Spain. Tel.: +34 93 316 0275; Fax: +34 93 316 0099; E-mail: isabelle.vernos@crg.es
aPresent address: DKFZ, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
Received 12 February 2008; Accepted 6 August 2008
Abstract
The centrosomal kinase Aurora A (AurA) is required for cell cycle progression, centrosome maturation and spindle assembly. However, the way it participates in spindle assembly is still quite unclear. Using the Xenopus egg extract system, we have dissected the role of AurA in the different microtubule (MT) assembly pathways involved in spindle formation. We developed a new tool based on the activation of AurA by TPX2 to clearly define the requirements for localization and activation of the kinase during spindle assembly. We show that localized AurA kinase activity is required to target factors involved in MT nucleation and stabilization to the centrosome, therefore promoting the formation of a MT aster. In addition, AurA strongly enhances MT nucleation mediated by the Ran pathway through cytoplasmic phosphorylation. Altogether, our data show that AurA exerts an effect as a key regulator of MT assembly during M phase and therefore of bipolar spindle formation.
Keywords:
- Aurora A,
- centrosome,
- microtubule,
- RanGTP,
- spindle assembly
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