spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    

First published online August 22, 2007
doi: 10.1242/10.1242/jcs.013136

Journal of Cell Science 120, 2987-2996 (2007)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2007
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Barr, A. R.
Right arrow Articles by Gergely, F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Barr, A. R.
Right arrow Articles by Gergely, F.

Commentary

Aurora-A: the maker and breaker of spindle poles

Alexis R. Barr and Fanni Gergely*

Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: Fanni.Gergely{at}cancer.org.uk)

Accepted 9 July 2007

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.

Key words: Centrosome, Mitosis, Spindle




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Genes Dev.Home page
F. Gergely and R. Basto
Multiple centrosomes: together they stand, divided they fall
Genes & Dev., September 1, 2008; 22(17): 2291 - 2296.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Cell Biol.Home page
A. W. Bird and A. A. Hyman
Building a spindle of the correct length in human cells requires the interaction between TPX2 and Aurora A
J. Cell Biol., July 28, 2008; 182(2): 289 - 300.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Cell Sci.Home page
P. Kalab and R. Heald
The RanGTP gradient - a GPS for the mitotic spindle
J. Cell Sci., May 15, 2008; 121(10): 1577 - 1586.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Cell Biol.Home page
A. Seki, J. A. Coppinger, H. Du, C.-Y. Jang, J. R. Yates III, and G. Fang
Plk1- and {beta}-TrCP-dependent degradation of Bora controls mitotic progression
J. Cell Biol., April 3, 2008; 181(1): 65 - 78.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2007