CENP-A phosphorylation by Aurora-A in prophase is required for enrichment of Aurora-B at inner centromeres and for kinetochore function

Naoko Kunitoku, Takashi Sasayama, Tomotoshi Marumoto, Dongwei Zhang, Shinobu Honda, Osamu Kobayashi, Katsuyoshi Hatakeyama, Yukitaka Ushio, Hideyuki Saya, Toru Hirota

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

200 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Aurora (Ipl1)-related kinases are universal regulators of mitosis. We now show that Aurora-A, in addition to Aurora-B, regulates kinetochore function in human cells. A two-hybrid screen identified the kinetochore component CENP-A as a protein that interacts with Aurora-A. Aurora-A phosphorylated CENP-A in vitro on Ser-7, a residue also known to be targeted by Aurora-B. Depletion of Aurora-A or Aurora-B by RNA interference revealed that CENP-A is initially phosphorylated in prophase in a manner dependent on Aurora-A, and that this reaction appears to be required for the subsequent Aurora-B-dependent phosphorylation of CENP-A as well as for the restriction of Aurora-B to the inner centromere in prometaphase. Prevention of CENP-A phosphorylation also led to chromosome misalignment during mitosis as a result of a defect in kinetochore attachment to microtubules. Our observations suggest that phosphorylation of CENP-A on Ser-7 by Aurora-A in prophase is essential for kinetochore function.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)853-864
Number of pages12
JournalDevelopmental Cell
Volume5
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003 Dec
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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