Co-regulation of the antagonistic RepoMan:Aurora-B pair in proliferating cells

Mol Biol Cell. 2020 Mar 15;31(6):419-438. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E19-12-0698. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

Abstract

Chromosome segregation during mitosis is antagonistically regulated by the Aurora-B kinase and RepoMan (recruits PP1 onto mitotic chromatin at anaphase)-associated phosphatases PP1/PP2A. Aurora B is overexpressed in many cancers but, surprisingly, this only rarely causes lethal aneuploidy. Here we show that RepoMan abundance is regulated by the same mechanisms that control Aurora B, including FOXM1-regulated expression and proteasomal degradation following ubiquitination by APC/C-CDH1 or SCFFBXW7. The deregulation of these mechanisms can account for the balanced co-overexpression of Aurora B and RepoMan in many cancers, which limits chromosome segregation errors. In addition, Aurora B and RepoMan independently promote cancer cell proliferation by reducing checkpoint--induced cell-cycle arrest during interphase. The co-up-regulation of RepoMan and Aurora B in tumors is inversely correlated with patient survival, underscoring its potential importance for tumor progression. Finally, we demonstrate that high RepoMan levels sensitize cancer cells to Aurora-B inhibitors. Hence, the co-up-regulation of RepoMan and Aurora B is associated with tumor aggressiveness but also exposes a vulnerable target for therapeutic intervention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aurora Kinase B / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Forkhead Box Protein M1 / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Interphase
  • Mitosis
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proteolysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • CDCA2 protein, human
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Forkhead Box Protein M1
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Aurora Kinase B
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex