A kinase-independent role for Aurora A in the assembly of mitotic spindle microtubules in Caenorhabd
Author: ["Mika Toya","Masahiro Terasawa","Kayo Nagata","Yumi Iida","Asako Sugimoto"]
Publication: Nature Cell Biology
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Abstract
Assembly of mitotic spindle microtubules in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos requires the Aurora A kinase. Live-cell imaging and RNAi-based experiments now reveal that the kinase activity of Aurora A is dispensible for this function. The assembly of a functional mitotic spindle is crucial for achieving successful mitosis. Aurora A kinase is one of the key regulators of mitotic events, including mitotic entry, centrosome maturation and spindle bipolarity1,2. Caenorhabditis elegans Aurora A (AIR-1) is responsible for the assembly of γ-tubulin-independent microtubules in early embryos3; however, the mechanism by which AIR-1 contributes to microtubule assembly during mitosis has been unclear. Here we show by live-cell imaging and RNA-mediated interference (RNAi)-based modulation of gene activity that AIR-1 has a crucial role in the assembly of chromatin-stimulated microtubules that is independent of the γ-tubulin complex. Surprisingly, the kinase activity of AIR-1 is dispensable for this process. Although the kinase-inactive form of AIR-1 was detected along the microtubules as well as on centrosomes, the kinase-active form of AIR-1 was restricted to centrosomes. Thus, we propose that AIR-1 has a kinase-dependent role at centrosomes and a kinase-independent role for stabilizing spindle microtubules and that coordination of these two roles is crucial for the assembly of mitotic spindles.
Cite this article
Toya, M., Terasawa, M., Nagata, K. et al. A kinase-independent role for Aurora A in the assembly of mitotic spindle microtubules in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. Nat Cell Biol 13, 708–714 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb2242
