Gene Section Review Atlas Genet Cytogenet Oncol Haematol. 2009; 13(4) 253 Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL AT INIST-CNRS AURKA (aurora kinase A) Laura Lentini, Aldo Di Leonardo Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology A, Monroy, University of Palermo, viale delle Scienze, Palermo, Italy (LL, ADL) Published in Atlas Database: May 2008 Online updated version : http://AtlasGeneticsOncology.org/Genes/AURKAID730ch20q13.html DOI: 10.4267/2042/44443 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 France Licence. © 2009 Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology Identity Other names: Aurora A; ARK1; AURA; Aurora2; BTAK; MGC34538; STK15; STK6; STK7 HGNC (Hugo): AURKA Location: 20q13.31 DNA/RNA Description The gene encompasses 22,8 kb of DNA; 9 Exons. Transcription 2253 bp mRNA. Protein Description 403 amino acids, 46kDa protein. At the amino terminal domain, three putative conserved Aurora boxes (A- boxI, A-boxII and A-boxIII) can be identified. The functional significance of these boxes is not yet clearly known and there is suggestive evidence in the literature that these may be involved in subcellular localization or substrate recognition for the proteins. One of the serine residues in the A-boxII of Aurora-A kinase has recently been shown to be involved in the degradation of the protein. One activation motif and a destruction box in C-terminal. AURKA is regulated by phosphorylation in a cell cycle dependent manner. This phosphorylation occurs on a conserved residue, threonine 288, within the activation loop of the catalytic domain of the kinase and results in a significant increase in the enzymatic activity. AURKA protein is able to physically associate with multiple important cellular proteins such as p53, BRCA1 and TACC1. The interactions of AURKA with those critical molecules have been shown to disrupt/alter their physiological functions and may play roles in tumorigenesis. Expression Widely expressed, AURKA mRNA and protein expression levels are low during G1 and S phase and peak during the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Kinase activity of the protein is also cell cycle regulated and the highest activity coincides with the most elevated expression level of the protein during mitosis. Localisation AURKA localizes next to the centrosome late in the G1 phase and early in the S phase. As the cell cycle progresses, concentration of AURKA increases and the kinase associates with the mitotic poles and the adjacent spindle microtubules. AURKA remains associated with the spindles through telophase.