Inhibition of Aurora Kinase B activity disrupts development and differentiation of salivary glands

Investigating the chemo-preventive role of noscapine in lung carcinoma via therapeutic targeting of human aurora kinase B

Lung carcinoma is the major contributor to global cancer incidence and one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Irregularities in signal transduction events, genetic alterations, and mutated regulatory genes trigger cancer development and progression. Selective targeting of molecular modulators has substantially revolutionized cancer treatment strategies with improvised efficacy. The aurora kinase B (AURKB) is a critical component of the chromosomal passenger complex and is primarily involved in lung cancer pathogenesis. Since AURKB is an important therapeutic target, the design and development of its potential inhibitors are attractive strategies. In this study, noscapine was selected and validated as a possible inhibitor of AURKB using integrated computational, spectroscopic, and cell-based assays. Molecular docking analysis showed noscapine occupies the substrate-binding pocket of AURKB with strong binding affinity. Subsequently, MD simulation studies confirmed the formation of a stable AURKB-noscapine complex with non-significant alteration in various trajectories, including RMSD, RMSF, Rg, and SASA. These findings were further experimentally validated through fluorescence binding studies. In addition, dose-dependent noscapine treatment significantly attenuated recombinant AURKB activity with an IC50 value of 26.6 µM. Cell viability studies conducted on A549 cells and HEK293 cells revealed significant cytotoxic features of noscapine on A549 cells. Furthermore, Annexin-PI staining validated that noscapine triggered apoptosis in lung cancer cells, possibly via an intrinsic pathway. Our findings indicate that noscapine-based AURKB inhibition can be implicated as a potential therapeutic strategy in lung cancer treatment and can also provide a novel scaffold for developing next-generation AURKB-specific inhibitors.

Phosphoproteomic Characterization and Kinase Signature Predict Response to Venetoclax Plus 3+7 Chemotherapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Resistance to chemotherapy remains a formidable obstacle in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutic management, necessitating the exploration of optimal strategies to maximize therapeutic benefits. Venetoclax with 3+7 daunorubicin and cytarabine (DAV regimen) in young adult de novo AML patients is evaluated. 90% of treated patients achieved complete remission, underscoring the potential of this regimen as a compelling therapeutic intervention. To elucidate underlying mechanisms governing response to DAV in AML, quantitative phosphoproteomics to discern distinct molecular signatures characterizing a subset of DAV-sensitive patients is used. Cluster analysis reveals an enrichment of phosphoproteins implicated in chromatin organization and RNA processing within DAV-susceptible and DA-resistant AML patients. Furthermore, kinase activity profiling identifies AURKB as a candidate indicator of DAV regimen efficacy in DA-resistant AML due to AURKB activation. Intriguingly, AML cells overexpressing AURKB exhibit attenuated MCL-1 expression, rendering them receptive to DAV treatment and maintaining them resistant to DA treatment. Moreover, the dataset delineates a shared kinase, AKT1, associated with DAV response. Notably, AKT1 inhibition augments the antileukemic efficacy of DAV treatment in AML. Overall, this phosphoproteomic study identifies the role of AURKB as a predictive biomarker for DA, but not DAV, resistance and proposes a promising strategy to counteract therapy resistance in AML.

HIV-1 virological synapse formation enhances infection spread by dysregulating Aurora Kinase B

HIV-1 spreads efficiently through direct cell-to-cell transmission at virological synapses (VSs) formed by interactions between HIV-1 envelope proteins (Env) on the surface of infected cells and CD4 receptors on uninfected target cells. Env-CD4 interactions bring the infected and uninfected cellular membranes into close proximity and induce transport of viral and cellular factors to the VS for efficient virion assembly and HIV-1 transmission. Using novel, cell-specific stable isotope labeling and quantitative mass spectrometric proteomics, we identified extensive changes in the levels and phosphorylation states of proteins in HIV-1 infected producer cells upon mixing with CD4+ target cells under conditions inducing VS formation. These coculture-induced alterations involved multiple cellular pathways including transcription, TCR signaling and, unexpectedly, cell cycle regulation, and were dominated by Env-dependent responses. We confirmed the proteomic results using inhibitors targeting regulatory kinases and phosphatases in selected pathways identified by our proteomic analysis. Strikingly, inhibiting the key mitotic regulator Aurora kinase B (AURKB) in HIV-1 infected cells significantly increased HIV activity in cell-to-cell fusion and transmission but had little effect on cell-free infection. Consistent with this, we found that AURKB regulates the fusogenic activity of HIV-1 Env. In the Jurkat T cell line and primary T cells, HIV-1 Env:CD4 interaction also dramatically induced cell cycle-independent AURKB relocalization to the centromere, and this signaling required the long (150 aa) cytoplasmic C-terminal domain (CTD) of Env. These results imply that cytoplasmic/plasma membrane AURKB restricts HIV-1 envelope fusion, and that this restriction is overcome by Env CTD-induced AURKB relocalization. Taken together, our data reveal a new signaling pathway regulating HIV-1 cell-to-cell transmission and potential new avenues for therapeutic intervention through targeting the Env CTD and AURKB activity.

Aurora B kinase: a potential drug target for cancer therapy

BACKGROUND

Ensuring genetic integrity is essential during the cell cycle to avoid aneuploidy, one of the underlying causes of malignancies. Aurora kinases are serine/threonine kinase that play a vital role in maintaining the genomic integrity of the cells. There are three forms of aurora kinases in the mammalian cells, which are highly conserved and act together with several other proteins to control chromosome alignment and its equal distribution to daughter cells in mitosis and meiosis.

METHODS

We provide here a detailed analysis of Aurora B kinase (ABK) in terms of its expression, structure, function, disease association and potential therapeutic implications.

RESULTS

ABK plays an instrumental in mitotic entry, chromosome condensation, spindle assembly, cytokinesis, and abscission. Small-molecule inhibitors of ABK are designed and synthesized to control cancer progression. A detailed understanding of ABK pathophysiology in different cancers is of great significance in designing and developing effective therapeutic strategies.

CONCLUSION

In this review, we have discussed the physiological significance of ABK followed by its role in cancer progression. We further highlighted available small-molecule inhibitors to control the tumor proliferation and their mechanistic insights.