Bora and the Kinase Aurora A Cooperatively Activate the Kinase Plk1 and Control Mitotic Entry
Abstract
A central question in the study of cell proliferation is, what controls cell-cycle transitions? Although the accumulation of mitotic cyclins drives the transition from the G2 phase to the M phase in embryonic cells, the trigger for mitotic entry in somatic cells remains unknown. We report that the synergistic action of Bora and the kinase Aurora A (Aur-A) controls the G2-M transition. Bora accumulates in the G2 phase and promotes Aur-A-mediated activation of Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), leading to the activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 and mitotic entry. Mechanistically, Bora interacts with Plk1 and controls the accessibility of its activation loop for phosphorylation and activation by Aur-A. Thus, Bora and Aur-A control mitotic entry, which provides a mechanism for one of the most important yet ill-defined events in the cell cycle.
- Publication:
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Science
- Pub Date:
- June 2008
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1157425
- Bibcode:
- 2008Sci...320.1655S
- Keywords:
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- CELL BIOL