Journal Article

Aurora kinase inhibitors reveal mechanisms of HURP in nucleation of centrosomal and kinetochore microtubules

Lin, Wen-Hsin, Wu, Su-Ying, Wu, Jian-Sung, Hsieh, Hsing-Pang, Lin, Chih-Tsung, Chao, Yu-Sheng, Lin, Wen-Hsing, Chi, Ya-Hui, Chen, Ching-Ping, Peng, Yi-Hui, Huang, Chi-Ying F., Coumar, Mohane Selvaraj, Chu, Chang-Ying, Chen, Chiung-Tong, Chang, Kai-Yen, Shiao, Hui-Yi, Kao, Li-Pin, Wu, Jiun-Ming, Hsueh, Ching-Cheng, Chen, Zi-Jie, Hsu, John T.-A.

2013

Overview

The overexpression of Aurora kinases in multiple tumors makes these kinases appealing targets for the development of anticancer therapies. This study identified two small molecules with a furanopyrimidine core, IBPR001 and IBPR002, that target Aurora kinases and induce a DFG conformation change at the ATP site of Aurora A. Our results demonstrate the high potency of the IBPR compounds in reducing tumorigenesis in a colorectal cancer xenograft model in athymic nude mice. Human hepatoma up-regulated protein (HURP) is a substrate of Aurora kinase A, which plays a crucial role in the stabilization of kinetochore fibers. This study used the IBPR compounds as well as MLN8237, a proven Aurora A inhibitor, as chemical probes to investigate the molecular role of HURP in mitotic spindle formation. These compounds effectively eliminated HURP phosphorylation, thereby revealing the coexistence and continuous cycling of HURP between unphosphorylated and phosphorylated forms that are associated, respectively, with microtubules emanating from centrosomes and kinetochores. Furthermore, these compounds demonstrate a spatial hierarchical preference for HURP in the attachment of microtubules extending from the mother to the daughter centrosome. The finding of inequality in the centrosomal microtubules revealed by these small molecules provides a versatile tool for the discovery of new cell-division molecules for the development of antitumor drugs.

• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
• Subject: adenosine triphosphate / Animals / antineoplastic agents / Aurora Kinase A / Aurora Kinases / Biological Sciences / carcinogenesis / Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism / Cell Cycle / Cell Cycle Proteins - metabolism / cell division / Centrosome - ultrastructure / centrosomes / Colorectal carcinoma / colorectal neoplasms / Crystallography, X-Ray / Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology / Fibers / Gene expression / gene expression regulation / Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / HeLa Cells / hepatoma / Humans / Kinases / kinetochores / Kinetochores - ultrastructure / Liver Neoplasms - metabolism / Male / Medical Sciences / Mice / Mice, Nude / microtubules / Microtubules - metabolism / Mitosis / mitotic spindle apparatus / Molecules / Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism / Neoplasm Transplantation / non-specific serine/threonine protein kinase / Phosphorylation / PNAS Plus / Protein Structure, Tertiary / Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors / Proteins