Control of Aurora-A stability through interaction with TPX2

J Cell Sci. 2011 Jan 1;124(Pt 1):113-22. doi: 10.1242/jcs.075457. Epub 2010 Dec 8.

Abstract

The Aurora-A kinase has well-established roles in spindle assembly and function and is frequently overexpressed in tumours. Its abundance is cell cycle regulated, with a peak in G2 and M phases, followed by regulated proteolysis at the end of mitosis. The microtubule-binding protein TPX2 plays a major role in regulating the activity and localisation of Aurora-A in mitotic cells. Here, we report a novel regulatory role of TPX2 and show that it protects Aurora-A from degradation both in interphase and in mitosis in human cells. Specifically, Aurora-A levels decrease in G2 and prometaphase cells silenced for TPX2, whereas degradation of Aurora-A is impaired in telophase cells overexpressing the Aurora-A-binding region of TPX2. The decrease in Aurora-A in TPX2-silenced prometaphases requires proteasome activity and the Cdh1 activator of the APC/C ubiquitin ligase. Reintroducing either full-length TPX2, or the Aurora-A-binding region of TPX2, but not a truncated TPX2 mutant lacking the Aurora-A-interaction domain, restores Aurora-A levels in TPX2-silenced prometaphases. The control by TPX2 of Aurora-A stability is independent of its ability to activate Aurora-A and to localise it to the spindle. These results highlight a novel regulatory level impinging on Aurora-A and provide further evidence for the central role of TPX2 in regulation of Aurora-A.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aurora Kinases
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / chemistry
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • G2 Phase
  • Humans
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / chemistry
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mitosis
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / chemistry*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein Stability
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • TPX2 protein, human
  • Aurora Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases