Aurorakinase
Aurora kinases are enzymes belonging to the family of serine / threonine protein kinases. They play an important role in cell growth. In oncology, the Aurora kinases are potential targets for the development of new medicinal substances for the therapy of cancer. The coding for the enzymes genes are counted as oncogenes.
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Function and occurrence in humans
In the human genome can be found - as with all mammals - three different Aurora kinases. All three Aurora kinases are involved in several biological cell processes. These primarily include cell division ( cytokinesis ) and the segregation of chromosomes.
Aurora kinase A
The for Aurokinase A ( also called Aurora -2 ) encoding AURKA gene is located on chromosome 20 in humans locus q13. The gene consists of 403 amino acids. Aurora A is directly involved in microtubule formation and stabilization of the spindle poles during chromosomal segregation. Consequently, it is found within the cells at the centrosome when the cell is in interphase of the cell cycle and in the case of mitosis to the spindle poles. On chromosome 1 of man is a pseudogene of AURAKA and on chromosome 10 not processed pseudogene.
Aurora kinase A is overexpressed in many human breast cancers.
Aurora kinase B
Aurora kinase B (also known as Aurora -1 ) is encoded by the gene AURKB. It is located in humans on chromosome 17 locus P13.1. The gene consists of 371 amino acids. It is located in the cell at the microtubule, specifically at the kinetochore microtubules.
Aurora kinase C
Aurora kinase C is a so-called chromosomal passenger protein that is encoded by the gene AURKC. This gene is located on chromosome 19 in humans locus q13.43. The gene consists of 275 amino acids and forms with Aurora kinase B and the inner centromere protein ( INCEP ) complexes. Aurora kinase C probably organized during mitosis the microtubule. As the other two Aurora kinases include aura is overexpressed in a number of tumor diseases.
Other organisms
In simpler organisms, such as frogs, fruit flies and nematodes missing Aurora kinase C.
Aurora kinases as a therapeutic target
The three human Aurora kinases are overexpressed in a variety of cancers in the cancer cells. They are therefore for the treatment of malignant tumors a promising target. In recent years, a number of Aurora kinase inhibitors have been developed, which are currently (as of November 2009) still in clinical trials (Phase I and II). As yet, no Aurora kinase inhibitor approved as a drug.