Exploring the functional interactions between Aurora B, INCENP, and survivin in mitosis

Akt3 links mitochondrial function to the regulation of Aurora B and mitotic fidelity

Akt3 is a key regulator of mitochondrial homeostasis in the endothelium. Akt3 depletion results in mitochondrial dysfunction, decreased mitochondrial biogenesis, and decreased angiogenesis. Here we link mitochondrial homeostasis with mitotic fidelity-depletion of Akt3 results in the missegregation of chromosomes as visualized by multinucleation and micronuclei formation. We have connected Akt3 to Aurora B, a significant player in chromosome segregation. Akt3 localizes to the nucleus, where it associates with and regulates WDR12. During mitosis, WDR12 is localized to the dividing chromosomes, and its depletion results in a similar mitotic phenotype to Akt3 depletion. WDR12 associates with Aurora B, both of which are downregulated under conditions of Akt3 depletion. We used the model oxidant paraquat to induce mitochondrial dysfunction to test whether the Akt3-dependent effect on mitochondrial homeostasis is linked to mitotic function. Paraquat treatment also causes chromosome missegregation by inhibiting the expression of Akt3, WDR12, and Aurora B. The inhibition of ROS rescued both the mitotic fidelity and the expression of Akt3 and Aurora B. Akt3 directly phosphorylates the major nuclear export protein CRM-1, causing an increase in its expression, resulting in the inhibition of PGC-1 nuclear localization, the master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. The Akt3/Aurora B pathway is also dependent on CRM-1. CRM-1 overexpression resulted in chromosome missegregation and downregulation of Aurora B similar to that of Akt3 depletion. Akt3 null hearts at midgestation (E14.5), a stage in which proliferation is occurring, have decreased Aurora B expression, increased CRM-1 expression, decreased proliferation, and increased apoptosis. Akt3 null hearts are smaller and have a thinner compact cell layer than age-matched wild-type mice. Akt3 null tissue has dysmorphic nuclear structures, suggesting mitotic catastrophe. Our findings show that mitochondrial dysfunction induced by paraquat or Akt3 depletion results in a CRM-1-dependent disruption of Aurora B and mitotic fidelity.

De-regulation of aurora kinases by oncogenic HPV; implications in cancer development and treatment

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause diseases ranging from benign warts to invasive cancers. HPVs are the cause of almost all cervical cancers and a sub-set of other epithelial malignancies including head and neck cancers, specifically within the oropharynx. The oncogenic properties of HPV are largely mediated through the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7, which disrupt many cellular pathways to drive uncontrolled cell proliferation. One family of proteins targeted by HPV is the Aurora kinase family. Aurora kinases are serine/threonine kinases including Aurora kinase A (AURKA), B (AURKB), and C (AURKC) which are often dysregulated in many cancer types, including HPV driven cancers. All three family members play essential roles in mitotic regulation and accurate cell division. The deregulation of Aurora kinases by HPV infection highlights their potential as therapeutic targets in HPV-associated malignancies. Targeting Aurora kinase activity, in combination with current HPV therapies, may provide new avenues for treating HPV-induced cancers and reducing the burden of HPV-related diseases. Combinatorial inhibition targets distinct but overlapping functions of these kinases, thereby reducing the potential for cancer cells to develop resistance. This broad impact emphasizes the capability for Aurora kinase inhibitors not only as anti-mitotic agents but also as modulators of multiple oncogenic pathways. This review explores the combinatorial effects of Aurora kinase inhibition, offering insights into novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of HPV-driven cancers.

Activation is only the beginning: mechanisms that tune kinase substrate specificity

Kinases are master coordinators of cellular processes, but to appropriately respond to the changing cellular environment, each kinase must recognize its substrates, target only those proteins on the correct amino acids, and in many cases, only phosphorylate a subset of potential substrates at any given time. Therefore, regulation of kinase substrate specificity is paramount to proper cellular function, and multiple mechanisms can be employed to achieve specificity. At the smallest scale, characteristics of the substrate such as its linear peptide motif and three-dimensional structure must be complementary to the substrate binding surface of the kinase. This surface is dynamically shaped by the activation loop and surrounding region of the substrate binding groove, which can adopt multiple conformations, often influenced by post-translational modifications. Domain-scale conformational changes can also occur, such as the interaction with pseudosubstrate domains or other regulatory domains in the kinase. Kinases may multimerize or form complexes with other proteins that influence their structure, function, and/or subcellular localization at different times and in response to different signals. This review will illustrate these mechanisms by examining recent work on four serine/threonine kinases: Aurora B, CaMKII, GSK3β, and CK1δ. We find that these mechanisms are often shared by this diverse set of kinases in diverse cellular contexts, so they may represent common strategies that cells use to regulate cell signaling, and it will be enlightening to continue to learn about the depth and robustness of kinase substrate specificity in additional systems.

Robust approach for production of the human oncology target Aurora kinase B in complex with its binding partner INCENP

Protein kinases are key players in many eukaryotic signal transduction cascades and are as a result often linked to human disease. In humans, the mitotic protein kinase family of Aurora kinases consist of three members: Aurora A, B and C. All three members are involved in cell division with proposed implications in various human cancers. The human Aurora kinase B has in particular proven challenging to study with structural biology approaches, and this is mainly due to difficulties in producing the large quantities of active enzyme required for such studies. Here, we present a novel and E. coli-based production system that allows for production of milligram quantities of well-folded and active human Aurora B in complex with its binding partner INCENP. The complex is produced as a continuous polypeptide chain and the resulting fusion protein is cleaved with TEV protease to generate a stable and native heterodimer of the Aurora B:INCENP complex. The activity, stability and degree of phosphorylation of the protein complex was quantified by using a coupled ATPase assay, 31P NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The developed production system enables isotope labeling and we here report the first 1H-15N-HSQC of the human Aurora B:INCENP complex. Our developed production strategy paves the way for future structural and functional studies of Aurora B and can as such assist the development of novel anticancer drugs targeting this important mitotic protein kinase.

RNPS1 in PSAP complex controls periodic pre-mRNA splicing over the cell cycle

Cell cycle progression requires periodic gene expression through splicing control. However, the splicing factor that directly controls this cell cycle-dependent splicing remains unknown. Cell cycle-dependent expression of the AURKB (aurora kinase B) gene is essential for chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. We previously reported that RNPS1 is essential to maintain precise splicing in AURKB intron 5. Here we show that RNPS1 plays this role in PSAP complex with PNN and SAP18, but not ASAP complex with ACIN1 and SAP18. Whole-transcriptome sequencing of RNPS1- and PNN-deficient cells indicated that RNPS1, either alone or as PSAP complex, is an essential splicing factor for a subset of introns. Remarkably, protein expression of RNPS1, but not PNN, is coordinated with cyclical splicing in PSAP-controlled introns including AURKB intron 5. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is involved in the periodic decrease of RNPS1 protein level. RNPS1 is a key factor that controls periodic splicing during the cell cycle.

MST1 interactomes profiling across cell death in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives

Resistance to apoptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) constitutes a significant impediment to treatment efficacy. Exploring alternative cell death pathways and their regulatory factors beyond apoptosis is crucial for overcoming drug resistance and enhancing therapeutic outcomes in ESCC.

Methods

Mammalian Ste 20-like kinase 1 (MST1) is implicated in regulating various cell deaths, including apoptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis. Employing enhanced ascorbate peroxidase 2 (APEX2) proximity labeling coupled with immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS), we elucidated the interactomes of MST1 across these three cell death paradigms.

Results

Proteomic profiling unveiled the functional roles and subcellular localization of MST1 and its interacting proteins during normal proliferation and various cell death processes. Notably, MST1 exhibited an expanded interactome during cell death compared to normal proliferation and chromosome remodeling functions consistently. In apoptosis, there was a notable increase of mitosis-associated proteins such as INCENP, ANLN, KIF23, SHCBP1 and SUPT16H, which interacted with MST1, alongside decreased expression of the pre-apoptotic protein STK3. During autophagy, the bindings of DNA repair-related proteins CBX8 and m6A reader YTHDC1 to MST1 were enhanced. In pyroptosis, LRRFIP2 and FLII which can inhibit pyroptosis increasingly binding to MST1.

Conclusions

Our findings delineate potential mechanisms through which MST1 and its interactomes regulate cell death, paving the way for further investigation to validate and consolidate these observations.

Aurora B controls anaphase onset and error-free chromosome segregation in trypanosomes

Kinetochores form the interface between chromosomes and spindle microtubules and are thus under tight control by a complex regulatory circuitry. The Aurora B kinase plays a central role within this circuitry by destabilizing improper kinetochore-microtubule attachments and relaying the attachment status to the spindle assembly checkpoint. Intriguingly, Aurora B is conserved even in kinetoplastids, a group of early-branching eukaryotes which possess a unique set of kinetochore proteins. It remains unclear how their kinetochores are regulated to ensure faithful chromosome segregation. Here, we show in Trypanosoma brucei that Aurora B activity controls the metaphase-to-anaphase transition through phosphorylation of the divergent Bub1-like protein KKT14. Depletion of KKT14 overrides the metaphase arrest resulting from Aurora B inhibition, while expression of non-phosphorylatable KKT14 delays anaphase onset. Finally, we demonstrate that re-targeting Aurora B to the outer kinetochore suffices to promote mitotic exit but causes extensive chromosome missegregation in anaphase. Our results indicate that Aurora B and KKT14 are involved in an unconventional circuitry controlling cell cycle progression in trypanosomes.

Gene-based burden tests of rare germline variants identify six cancer susceptibility genes

Discovery of cancer risk variants in the sequence of the germline genome can shed light on carcinogenesis. Here we describe gene burden association analyses, aggregating rare missense and loss of function variants, at 22 cancer sites, including 130,991 cancer cases and 733,486 controls from Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom. We identified four genes associated with increased cancer risk; the pro-apoptotic BIK for prostate cancer, the autophagy involved ATG12 for colorectal cancer, TG for thyroid cancer and CMTR2 for both lung cancer and cutaneous melanoma. Further, we found genes with rare variants that associate with decreased risk of cancer; AURKB for any cancer, irrespective of site, and PPP1R15A for breast cancer, suggesting that inhibition of PPP1R15A may be a preventive strategy for breast cancer. Our findings pinpoint several new cancer risk genes and emphasize autophagy, apoptosis and cell stress response as a focus point for developing new therapeutics.

Differential regulation of expression of the protein kinases DYRK1A and DYRK1B in cancer cells

The protein kinases DYRK1A and DYRK1B are pivotal regulators of cell cycle progression by promoting cell cycle exit into quiescence. DYRK1B appears to play a more important role in cancer cell quiescence than DYRK1A, as evidenced by its overexpression or copy number variations in human tumour samples. Nonetheless, the stimuli driving DYRK1B upregulation and the potential divergence in expression patterns between DYRK1A and DYRK1B remain largely elusive. In the present study, we scrutinized the regulatory pathways modulating DYRK1B expression relative to DYRK1A in PANC-1 and A549 cancer cell lines across varying conditions. Serum deprivation, pharmacological mTOR inhibition and increased cell density resulted in the differential upregulation of DYRK1B compared to DYRK1A. We then aimed to assess the role of protein kinases MST1 and MST2, which are key transmitters of cell density dependent effects. Unexpectedly, exposure to the MST1/2 inhibitor XMU-MP-1 resulted in increased DYRK1B levels in A549 cells. Further investigation into the off-target effects of XMU-MP-1 unveiled the inhibition of Aurora kinases (AURKA and AURKB) as a potential causative factor. Consistently, AURK inhibitors VX-680 (tozasertib), MLN8237 (alisertib), AZD1152-HQPA (barasertib) resulted in the upregulation of DYRK1B expression in A549 cells. In summary, our findings indicate that the expression of DYRK1A and DYRK1B is differentially regulated in cancer cells and reveal that the kinase inhibitor XMU-MP-1 increases DYRK1B expression likely through off target inhibition of Aurora kinases.

Bipartite binding interface recruiting HP1 to chromosomal passenger complex at inner centromeres

Maintenance of ploidy depends on the mitotic kinase Aurora B, the catalytic subunit of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) whose proficient activity is supported by HP1 enriched at inner centromeres. HP1 is known to associate with INCENP of the CPC in a manner that depends on the PVI motif conserved across HP1 interactors. Here, we found that the interaction of INCENP with HP1 requires not only the PVI motif but also its C-terminally juxtaposed domain. Remarkably, these domains conditionally fold the β-strand (PVI motif) and the α-helix from a disordered sequence upon HP1 binding and render INCENP with high affinity to HP1. This bipartite binding domain termed SSH domain (Structure composed of Strand and Helix) is necessary and sufficient to attain a predominant interaction of HP1 with INCENP. These results identify a unique HP1-binding module in INCENP that ensures enrichment of HP1 at inner centromeres, Aurora B activity, and thereby mitotic fidelity.

The Molecular Mechanism of Aurora-B Regulating Kinetochore-Microtubule Attachment in Mitosis and Oocyte Meiosis

BACKGROUND

Aurora kinase B (Aurora-B), a member of the chromosomal passenger complex, is involved in correcting kinetochore-microtubule (KT-MT) attachment errors and regulating sister chromatid condensation and cytoplasmic division during mitosis.

SUMMARY

However, few reviews have discussed its mechanism in oocyte meiosis and the differences between its role in mitosis and meiosis. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the localization, recruitment, activation, and functions of Aurora-B in mitosis and oocyte meiosis. The accurate regulation of Aurora-B is essential for ensuring accurate chromosomal segregation and correct KT-MT attachments. Aurora-B regulates the stability of KT-MT attachments by competing with cyclin-dependent kinase 1 to control the phosphorylation of the SILK and RVSF motifs on kinetochore scaffold 1 and by competing with protein phosphatase 1 to influence the phosphorylation of NDC80 which is the substrate of Aurora-B. In addition, Aurora-B regulates the spindle assembly checkpoint by promoting the recruitment and activation of mitotic arrest deficient 2.

KEY MESSAGES

This review provides a theoretical foundation for elucidating the mechanism of cell division and understanding oocyte chromosomal aneuploidy.

A validation strategy to assess the role of phase separation as a determinant of macromolecular localization

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of putative assembly scaffolds has been proposed to drive the biogenesis of membraneless compartments. LLPS scaffolds are usually identified through in vitro LLPS assays with single macromolecules (homotypic), but the predictive value of these assays remains poorly characterized. Here, we apply a strategy to evaluate the robustness of homotypic LLPS assays. When applied to the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), which undergoes LLPS in vitro and localizes to centromeres to promote chromosome biorientation, LLPS propensity in vitro emerged as an unreliable predictor of subcellular localization. In vitro CPC LLPS in aqueous buffers was enhanced by commonly used crowding agents. Conversely, diluted cytomimetic media dissolved condensates of the CPC and of several other proteins. We also show that centromeres do not seem to nucleate LLPS, nor do they promote local, spatially restrained LLPS of the CPC. Our strategy can be adapted to purported LLPS scaffolds of other membraneless compartments.

Ectopic expression of the transcription factor ONECUT3 drives a complex karyotype in myelodysplastic syndromes

Chromosomal instability is a prominent biological feature of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), with over 50% of patients with MDS harboring chromosomal abnormalities or a complex karyotype (CK). Despite this observation, the mechanisms underlying mitotic and chromosomal defects in MDS remain elusive. In this study, we identified ectopic expression of the transcription factor ONECUT3, which is associated with CKs and poorer survival outcomes in MDS. ONECUT3-overexpressing cell models exhibited enrichment of several notable pathways, including signatures of sister chromosome exchange separation and mitotic nuclear division with the upregulation of INCENP and CDCA8 genes. Notably, dysregulation of chromosome passenger complex (CPC) accumulation, besides the cell equator and midbody, during mitotic phases consequently caused cytokinesis failure and defective chromosome segregation. Mechanistically, the homeobox (HOX) domain of ONECUT3, serving as the DNA binding domain, occupied the unique genomic regions of INCENP and CDCA8 and transcriptionally activated these 2 genes. We identified a lead compound, C5484617, that functionally targeted the HOX domain of ONECUT3, inhibiting its transcriptional activity on downstream genes, and synergistically resensitized MDS cells to hypomethylating agents. This study revealed that ONECUT3 promoted chromosomal instability by transcriptional activation of INCENP and CDCA8, suggesting potential prognostic and therapeutic roles for targeting high-risk MDS patients with a CK.

Alternative polyadenylation and dynamic 3' UTR length is associated with polysome recruitment throughout the cardiomyogenic differentiation of hESCs

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) increases transcript diversity through the generation of isoforms with varying 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) lengths. As the 3' UTR harbors regulatory element target sites, such as miRNAs or RNA-binding proteins, changes in this region can impact post-transcriptional regulation and translation. Moreover, the APA landscape can change based on the cell type, cell state, or condition. Given that APA events can impact protein expression, investigating translational control is crucial for comprehending the overall cellular regulation process. Revisiting data from polysome profiling followed by RNA sequencing, we investigated the cardiomyogenic differentiation of pluripotent stem cells by identifying the transcripts that show dynamic 3' UTR lengthening or shortening, which are being actively recruited to ribosome complexes. Our findings indicate that dynamic 3' UTR lengthening is not exclusively associated with differential expression during cardiomyogenesis but rather with recruitment to polysomes. We confirm that the differentiated state of cardiomyocytes shows a preference for shorter 3' UTR in comparison to the pluripotent stage although preferences vary during the days of the differentiation process. The most distinct regulatory changes are seen in day 4 of differentiation, which is the mesoderm commitment time point of cardiomyogenesis. After identifying the miRNAs that would target specifically the alternative 3' UTR region of the isoforms, we constructed a gene regulatory network for the cardiomyogenesis process, in which genes related to the cell cycle were identified. Altogether, our work sheds light on the regulation and dynamic 3' UTR changes of polysome-recruited transcripts that take place during the cardiomyogenic differentiation of pluripotent stem cells.

Probing Baicalin as potential inhibitor of Aurora kinase B: A step towards lung cancer therapy

Cell cycle regulators play pivotal roles as their dysregulation, leads to atypical proliferation and intrinsic genomic instability in cancer cells. Abnormal expression and functioning of Aurora kinase B (AURKB) are associated with cancer pathogenesis and thus exploited as a potential therapeutic target for the development of anti-cancer therapeutics. To identify effective AURKB inhibitors, a series of polyphenols was investigated to check their potential to inhibit recombinant AURKB. Their binding affinities were experimentally validated through fluorescence binding studies. Enzyme inhibition assay revealed that Mangiferin and Baicalin significantly inhibited AURKB activity with an IC50 values of 20.0 μM and 31.1 μM, respectively. To get atomistic insights into the binding mechanism, molecular docking and MD simulations of 100 ns were performed. Both compounds formed many non-covalent interactions with the residues of the active site pocket of AURKB. In addition, minimal conformational changes in the structure and formation of stable AURKB-ligand complex were observed during MD simulation analysis. Finally, cell-based studies suggested that Baicalin exhibited in-vitro cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative effects on lung cancer cell lines. Conclusively, Baicalin may be considered a promising therapeutic molecule against AURKB, adding an additional novel lead to the anti-cancer repertoire.

An unconventional regulatory circuitry involving Aurora B controls anaphase onset and error-free chromosome segregation in trypanosomes

Accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis requires that all chromosomes establish stable bi-oriented attachments with the spindle apparatus. Kinetochores form the interface between chromosomes and spindle microtubules and as such are under tight control by complex regulatory circuitry. As part of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), the Aurora B kinase plays a central role within this circuitry by destabilizing improper kinetochore-microtubule attachments and relaying the attachment status to the spindle assembly checkpoint, a feedback control system that delays the onset of anaphase by inhibiting the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome. Intriguingly, Aurora B is conserved even in kinetoplastids, an evolutionarily divergent group of eukaryotes, whose kinetochores are composed of a unique set of structural and regulatory proteins. Kinetoplastids do not have a canonical spindle checkpoint and it remains unclear how their kinetochores are regulated to ensure the fidelity and timing of chromosome segregation. Here, we show in Trypanosoma brucei, the kinetoplastid parasite that causes African sleeping sickness, that inhibition of Aurora B using an analogue-sensitive approach arrests cells in metaphase, with a reduction in properly bi-oriented kinetochores. Aurora B phosphorylates several kinetochore proteins in vitro, including the N-terminal region of the divergent Bub1-like protein KKT14. Depletion of KKT14 partially overrides the cell cycle arrest caused by Aurora B inhibition, while overexpression of a non-phosphorylatable KKT14 protein results in a prominent delay in the metaphase-to-anaphase transition. Finally, we demonstrate using a nanobody-based system that re-targeting the catalytic module of the CPC to the outer kinetochore is sufficient to promote mitotic exit but causes massive chromosome mis-segregation in anaphase. Our results indicate that the CPC and KKT14 are involved in an unconventional pathway controlling mitotic exit and error-free chromosome segregation in trypanosomes.

siRNA-Mediated BmAurora B Depletion Impedes the Formation of Holocentric Square Spindles in Silkworm Metaphase BmN4 Cells

Silkworm ovary-derived BmN4 cells rely on chromatin-induced spindle assembly to form microtubule-based square mitotic spindles that ensure accurate segregation of holocentric chromosomes during cell division. The chromosome passenger protein Aurora B regulates chromosomal condensation and segregation, spindle assembly checkpoint activation, and cytokinesis; however, its role in holocentric organisms needs further clarification. This study examined the architecture and dynamics of spindle microtubules during prophase and metaphase in BmN4 cells and those with siRNA-mediated BmAurora B knockdown using immunofluorescence labeling. Anti-α-tubulin and anti-γ-tubulin antibodies revealed faint γ-tubulin signals colocalized with α-tubulin in early prophase during nuclear membrane rupture, which intensified as prophase progressed. At this stage, bright regions of α-tubulin around and on the nuclear membrane surrounding the chromatin suggested the start of microtubules assembling in the microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs). In metaphase, fewer but larger γ-tubulin foci were detected on both sides of the chromosomes. This resulted in a distinctive multipolar square spindle with holocentric chromosomes aligned at the metaphase plate. siRNA-mediated BmAurora B knockdown significantly reduced the γ-tubulin foci during prophase, impacting microtubule nucleation and spindle structure in metaphase. Spatiotemporal BmAurora B expression analysis provided new insights into the regulation of this mitotic kinase in silkworm larval gonads during gametogenesis. Our results suggest that BmAurora B is crucial for the formation of multipolar square spindles in holocentric insects, possibly through the activation of γ-tubulin ring complexes in multiple centrosome-like MTOCs.

The assembly of the Mitochondrial Complex I Assembly complex uncovers a redox pathway coordination

The Mitochondrial Complex I Assembly (MCIA) complex is essential for the biogenesis of respiratory Complex I (CI), the first enzyme in the respiratory chain, which has been linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. However, how MCIA facilitates CI assembly, and how it is linked with AD pathogenesis, is poorly understood. Here we report the structural basis of the complex formation between the MCIA subunits ECSIT and ACAD9. ECSIT binding induces a major conformational change in the FAD-binding loop of ACAD9, releasing the FAD cofactor and converting ACAD9 from a fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) enzyme to a CI assembly factor. We provide evidence that ECSIT phosphorylation downregulates its association with ACAD9 and is reduced in neuronal cells upon exposure to amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers. These findings advance our understanding of the MCIA complex assembly and suggest a possible role for ECSIT in the reprogramming of bioenergetic pathways linked to Aβ toxicity, a hallmark of AD.

The Role of Aurora B Kinase in Normal and Cancer Cells

Aurora kinases are essential players in mammalian cell division. These kinases are involved in the regulation of spindle dynamics, microtubule-kinetochore interactions, and chromosome condensation and orientation during mitosis. At least three members of the Aurora family - Aurora kinases A, B, and C - have been identified in mammals. Aurora B is essential for maintaining genomic stability and normal cell division. Mutations and dysregulation of this kinase are implicated in tumor initiation and progression. In this review, we discuss the functions of Aurora B, the relationship between increased Aurora B activity and carcinogenesis, and the prospects for the use of Aurora B kinase inhibitors in antitumor therapy.

The Aurora kinase B relocation blocker LXY18 triggers mitotic catastrophe selectively in malignant cells

The mitotic regulator, Aurora kinase B (AURKB), is frequently overexpressed in malignancy and is a target for therapeutic intervention. The compound, LXY18, is a potent, orally available small molecule that inhibits the proper localization of AURKB during late mitosis, without affecting its kinase activity. In this study, we demonstrate that LXY18 elicits apoptosis in cancer cells derived from various indications, but not in non-transformed cell lines. The apoptosis is p53-independent, triggered by a prolonged mitotic arrest and occurs predominantly in mitosis. Some additional cells succumb post-mitotic slippage. We also demonstrate that cancer cell lines refractory to AURKB kinase inhibitors are sensitive to LXY18. The mitotic proteins MKLP2, NEK6, NEK7 and NEK9 are known regulators of AURKB localization during the onset of anaphase. LXY18 fails to inhibit the catalytic activity of these AURKB localization factors. Overall, our findings suggest a novel activity for LXY18 that produces a prolonged mitotic arrest and lethality in cancer cells, leaving non-transformed cells healthy. This new activity suggests that the compound may be a promising drug candidate for cancer treatment and that it can also be used as a tool compound to further dissect the regulatory network controlling AURKB localization.

A co-formulation of interferons alpha2b and gamma distinctively targets cell cycle in the glioblastoma-derived cell line U-87MG

BACKGROUND

HeberFERON is a co-formulation of α2b and γ interferons, based on their synergism, which has shown its clinical superiority over individual interferons in basal cell carcinomas. In glioblastoma (GBM), HeberFERON has displayed promising preclinical and clinical results. This led us to design a microarray experiment aimed at identifying the molecular mechanisms involved in the distinctive effect of HeberFERON compared to the individual interferons in U-87MG model.

METHODS

Transcriptional expression profiling including a control (untreated) and three groups receiving α2b-interferon, γ-interferon and HeberFERON was performed using an Illumina HT-12 microarray platform. Unsupervised methods for gene and sample grouping, identification of differentially expressed genes, functional enrichment and network analysis computational biology methods were applied to identify distinctive transcription patterns of HeberFERON. Validation of most representative genes was performed by qPCR. For the cell cycle analysis of cells treated with HeberFERON for 24 h, 48 and 72 h we used flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The three treatments show different behavior based on the gene expression profiles. The enrichment analysis identified several mitotic cell cycle related events, in particular from prometaphase to anaphase, which are exclusively targeted by HeberFERON. The FOXM1 transcription factor network that is involved in several cell cycle phases and is highly expressed in GBMs, is significantly down regulated. Flow cytometry experiments corroborated the action of HeberFERON on the cell cycle in a dose and time dependent manner with a clear cellular arrest as of 24 h post-treatment. Despite the fact that p53 was not down-regulated, several genes involved in its regulatory activity were functionally enriched. Network analysis also revealed a strong relationship of p53 with genes targeted by HeberFERON. We propose a mechanistic model to explain this distinctive action, based on the simultaneous activation of PKR and ATF3, p53 phosphorylation changes, as well as its reduced MDM2 mediated ubiquitination and export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. PLK1, AURKB, BIRC5 and CCNB1 genes, all regulated by FOXM1, also play central roles in this model. These and other interactions could explain a G2/M arrest and the effect of HeberFERON on the proliferation of U-87MG.

CONCLUSIONS

We proposed molecular mechanisms underlying the distinctive behavior of HeberFERON compared to the treatments with the individual interferons in U-87MG model, where cell cycle related events were highly relevant.

Structural basis for CEP192-mediated regulation of centrosomal AURKA

Aurora kinase A (AURKA) performs critical functions in mitosis. Thus, the activity and subcellular localization of AURKA are tightly regulated and depend on diverse factors including interactions with the multiple binding cofactors. How these different cofactors regulate AURKA to elicit different levels of activity at distinct subcellular locations and times is poorly understood. Here, we identified a conserved region of CEP192, the major cofactor of AURKA, that mediates the interaction with AURKA. Quantitative binding studies were performed to map the interactions of a conserved helix (Helix-1) within CEP192. The crystal structure of Helix-1 bound to AURKA revealed a distinct binding site that is different from other cofactor proteins such as TPX2. Inhibiting the interaction between Helix-1 and AURKA in cells led to the mitotic defects, demonstrating the importance of the interaction. Collectively, we revealed a structural basis for the CEP192-mediated AURKA regulation at the centrosome, which is distinct from TPX2-mediated regulation on the spindle microtubule.

Adaptation to high rates of chromosomal instability and aneuploidy through multiple pathways in budding yeast

Both an increased frequency of chromosome missegregation (chromosomal instability, CIN) and the presence of an abnormal complement of chromosomes (aneuploidy) are hallmarks of cancer. To better understand how cells are able to adapt to high levels of chromosomal instability, we previously examined yeast cells that were deleted of the gene BIR1, a member of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC). We found bir1Δ cells quickly adapted by acquiring specific combinations of beneficial aneuploidies. In this study, we monitored these yeast strains for longer periods of time to determine how cells adapt to high levels of both CIN and aneuploidy in the long term. We identify suppressor mutations that mitigate the chromosome missegregation phenotype. The mutated proteins fall into four main categories: outer kinetochore subunits, the SCFCdc4 ubiquitin ligase complex, the mitotic kinase Mps1, and the CPC itself. The identified suppressor mutations functioned by reducing chromosomal instability rather than alleviating the negative effects of aneuploidy. Following the accumulation of suppressor point mutations, the number of beneficial aneuploidies decreased. These experiments demonstrate a time line of adaptation to high rates of CIN.

Aurora B Inhibitors as Cancer Therapeutics

The Aurora kinases (A, B, and C) are a family of three isoform serine/threonine kinases that regulate mitosis and meiosis. The Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC), which contains Aurora B as an enzymatic component, plays a critical role in cell division. Aurora B in the CPC ensures faithful chromosome segregation and promotes the correct biorientation of chromosomes on the mitotic spindle. Aurora B overexpression has been observed in several human cancers and has been associated with a poor prognosis for cancer patients. Targeting Aurora B with inhibitors is a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. In the past decade, Aurora B inhibitors have been extensively pursued in both academia and industry. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the preclinical and clinical candidates of Aurora B inhibitors as potential anticancer drugs. The recent advances in the field of Aurora B inhibitor development will be highlighted, and the binding interactions between Aurora B and inhibitors based on crystal structures will be presented and discussed to provide insights for the future design of more selective Aurora B inhibitors.

An affinity-directed phosphatase, AdPhosphatase, system for targeted protein dephosphorylation

Reversible protein phosphorylation, catalyzed by protein kinases and phosphatases, is a fundamental process that controls protein function and intracellular signaling. Failure of phospho-control accounts for many human diseases. While a kinase phosphorylates multiple substrates, a substrate is often phosphorylated by multiple kinases. This renders phospho-control at the substrate level challenging, as it requires inhibition of multiple kinases, which would thus affect other kinase substrates. Here, we describe the development and application of the affinity-directed phosphatase (AdPhosphatase) system for targeted dephosphorylation of specific phospho-substrates. By deploying the Protein Phosphatase 1 or 2A catalytic subunits conjugated to an antigen-stabilized anti-GFP nanobody, we can promote the dephosphorylation of two independent phospho-proteins, FAM83D or ULK1, knocked in with GFP-tags using CRISPR-Cas9, with exquisite specificity. By redirecting protein phosphatases to neo-substrates through nanobody-mediated proximity, AdPhosphatase can alter the phospho-status and function of target proteins and thus, offers a new modality for potential drug discovery approaches.

The deubiquitinating enzyme complex BRISC regulates Aurora B activation via lysine-63-linked ubiquitination in mitosis

Faithful chromosome segregation requires bi-oriented kinetochore-microtubule attachment on the metaphase spindle. Aurora B kinase, the catalytic core of the chromosome passage complex (CPC), plays a crucial role in this process. Aurora B activation has widely been investigated in the context of protein phosphorylation. Here, we report that Aurora B is ubiquitinated in mitosis through lysine-63 ubiquitin chains (K63-Ub), which is required for its activation. Mutation of Aurora B at its primary K63 ubiquitin site inhibits its activation, reduces its kinase activity, and disrupts the association of Aurora B with other components of CPC, leading to severe mitotic defects and cell apoptosis. Moreover, we identify that BRCC36 isopeptidase complex (BRISC) is the K63-specific deubiquitinating enzyme for Aurora B. BRISC deficiency augments the accumulation of Aurora B K63-Ubs, leading to Aurora B hyperactivation and erroneous chromosome-microtubule attachments. These findings define the role of K63-linked ubiquitination in regulating Aurora B activation and provide a potential site for Aurora B-targeting drug design.

Minor Kinases with Major Roles in Cytokinesis Regulation

Cytokinesis, the conclusive act of cell division, allows cytoplasmic organelles and chromosomes to be faithfully partitioned between two daughter cells. In animal organisms, its accurate regulation is a fundamental task for normal development and for preventing aneuploidy. Cytokinesis failures produce genetically unstable tetraploid cells and ultimately result in chromosome instability, a hallmark of cancer cells. In animal cells, the assembly and constriction of an actomyosin ring drive cleavage furrow ingression, resulting in the formation of a cytoplasmic intercellular bridge, which is severed during abscission, the final event of cytokinesis. Kinase-mediated phosphorylation is a crucial process to orchestrate the spatio-temporal regulation of the different stages of cytokinesis. Several kinases have been described in the literature, such as cyclin-dependent kinase, polo-like kinase 1, and Aurora B, regulating both furrow ingression and/or abscission. However, others exist, with well-established roles in cell-cycle progression but whose specific role in cytokinesis has been poorly investigated, leading to considering these kinases as "minor" actors in this process. Yet, they deserve additional attention, as they might disclose unexpected routes of cell division regulation. Here, we summarize the role of multifunctional kinases in cytokinesis with a special focus on those with a still scarcely defined function during cell cleavage. Moreover, we discuss their implication in cancer.

Integrative Analysis of Motor Neuron and Microglial Transcriptomes from SOD1G93A Mice Models Uncover Potential Drug Treatments for ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease of motor neurons that mainly affects the motor cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. Under disease conditions, microglia could possess two distinct profiles, M1 (toxic) and M2 (protective), with the M2 profile observed at disease onset. SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) gene mutations account for up to 20% of familial ALS cases. Comparative gene expression differences in M2-protective (early) stage SOD1^G93A microglia and age-matched SOD1^G93A motor neurons are poorly understood. We evaluated the differential gene expression profiles in SOD1^G93A microglia and SOD1^G93A motor neurons utilizing publicly available transcriptomics data and bioinformatics analyses, constructed biomolecular networks around them, and identified gene clusters as potential drug targets. Following a drug repositioning strategy, 5 small compounds (belinostat, auranofin, BRD-K78930611, AZD-8055, and COT-10b) were repositioned as potential ALS therapeutic candidates that mimic the protective state of microglia and reverse the toxic state of motor neurons. We anticipate that this study will provide new insights into the ALS pathophysiology linking the M2 state of microglia and drug repositioning.

Increased Aurora B expression reduces substrate phosphorylation and induces chromosomal instability

Increased Aurora B protein expression, which is common in cancers, is expected to increase Aurora B kinase activity, yielding elevated phosphorylation of Aurora B substrates. In contrast, here we show that elevated expression of Aurora B reduces phosphorylation of six different Aurora B substrates across three species and causes defects consistent with Aurora B inhibition. Complexes of Aurora B and its binding partner INCENP autophosphorylate in trans to achieve full Aurora B activation. Increased expression of Aurora B mislocalizes INCENP, reducing the local concentration of Aurora B:INCENP complexes at the inner centromere/kinetochore. Co-expression of INCENP rescues Aurora B kinase activity and mitotic defects caused by elevated Aurora B. However, INCENP expression is not elevated in concert with Aurora B in breast cancer, and increased expression of Aurora B causes resistance rather than hypersensitivity to Aurora B inhibitors. Thus, increased Aurora B expression reduces, rather than increases, Aurora B kinase activity.

Revisiting the multisite phosphorylation that produces the M-phase supershift of key mitotic regulators

The term M-phase supershift denotes the phosphorylation-dependent substantial increase in the apparent molecular weight of numerous proteins of varied biological functions during M-phase induction. Although the M-phase supershift of multiple key mitotic regulators has been attributed to the multisite phosphorylation catalyzed by the Cdk1/cyclin B/Cks complex, this view is challenged by multiple lines of paradoxical observations. To solve this problem, we reconstituted the M-phase supershift of Xenopus Cdc25C, Myt1, Wee1A, APC3, and Greatwall in Xenopus egg extracts and characterized the supershift-producing phosphorylations. Our results demonstrate that their M-phase supershifts are each due to simultaneous phosphorylation of a considerable portion of S/T/Y residues in a long intrinsically disordered region that is enriched in both S/T residues and S/TP motifs. Although the major mitotic kinases in Xenopus egg extracts, Cdk1, MAPK, Plx1, and RSK2, are able to phosphorylate the five mitotic regulators, they are neither sufficient nor required to produce the M-phase supershift. Accordingly, inhibition of the four major mitotic kinase activities in Xenopus oocytes did not inhibit the M-phase supershift in okadaic acid-induced oocyte maturation. These findings indicate that the M-phase supershift is produced by a previously unrecognized category of mitotic phosphorylation that likely plays important roles in M-phase induction.

The ubiquitin-ligase TRAF6 and TGFβ type I receptor form a complex with Aurora kinase B contributing to mitotic progression and cytokinesis in cancer cells

Background

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is overexpressed in several advanced cancer types and promotes tumor progression. We have reported that the intracellular domain (ICD) of TGFβ receptor (TβR) I is cleaved by proteolytic enzymes in cancer cells, and then translocated to the nucleus in a manner dependent on the endosomal adaptor proteins APPL1/2, driving an invasiveness program. How cancer cells evade TGFβ-induced growth inhibition is unclear.

Methods

We performed microarray analysis to search for genes regulated by APPL1/2 proteins in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells. We investigated the role of TβRI and TRAF6 in mitosis in cancer cell lines cultured in 10% FBS in the absence of exogenous TGFβ. The molecular mechanism of the ubiquitination of AURKB by TRAF6 in mitosis and the formation of AURKB–TβRI complex in cancer cell lines and tissue microarrays was also studied.

Findings

During mitosis and cytokinesis, AURKB–TβRI complexes formed in midbodies in CRPC and KELLY neuroblastoma cells. TRAF6 induced polyubiquitination of AURKB on K85 and K87, protruding on the surface of AURKB to facilitate its activation. AURKB–TβRI complexes in patient's tumor tissue sections correlated with the malignancy of prostate cancer.

Interpretation

The AURKB–TβRI complex may become a prognostic biomarker for patients with risk of developing aggressive PC.

Funding

Swedish Medical Research Council (2019-01598, ML; 2015-02757 and 2020-01291, CHH), the Swedish Cancer Society (20 0964, ML), a regional agreement between Umeå University and Region Västerbotten (ALF; RV-939377, -967041, -970057, ML). The European Research Council (787472, CHH). KAW 2019.0345, and the Kempe Foundation SMK-1866; ML. National Microscopy Infrastructure (NMI VR-RFI 2016-00968).

(-)-Gossypol enhances the anticancer activity of epirubicin via downregulating survivin in hepatocellular carcinoma

Epirubicin (EPI)-based transarterial chemoembolization is an effective therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, EPI-induced survivin expression limits its tumor-killing potential in HCC. Interestingly, (-)-gossypol ((-)-Gsp), a male contraceptive, suppresses various malignancies. More importantly, (-)-Gsp also holds promise for enhancing the antitumor effects of chemotherapy in numerous cancer types. In the present study, we demonstrated for the first time that (-)-Gsp-sensitized EPI inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis of HCC cells in vitro. Furthermore, (-)-Gsp sensitized EPI by attenuating the EPI-elevated survivin protein levels. Mechanistic studies showed that EPI stimulated survivin protein synthesis by promoting translation initiation, which was alleviated by (-)-Gsp mainly through suppressing the AKT-4EBP1/p70S6K-survivin and ERK-4EBP1-survivin pathways. HCC xenograft experiments in nude mice also showed that (-)-Gsp treatment acted synergistically with EPI to repress xenograft tumor growth. Overall, our proof-of-concept results may pave the way for novel strategies for the treatment of HCC based on the combination of EPI and (-)-Gsp.

Dysregulation of Cellular VRK1, BAF, and Innate Immune Signaling by the Vaccinia Virus B12 Pseudokinase

Poxvirus proteins remodel signaling throughout the cell by targeting host enzymes for inhibition and redirection. Recently, it was discovered that early in infection the vaccinia virus (VACV) B12 pseudokinase copurifies with the cellular kinase VRK1, a proviral factor, in the nucleus. Although the formation of this complex correlates with inhibition of cytoplasmic VACV DNA replication and likely has other downstream signaling consequences, the molecular mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Here, we further characterize how B12 and VRK1 regulate one another during poxvirus infection. First, we demonstrate that B12 is stabilized in the presence of VRK1 and that VRK1 and B12 coinfluence their respective solubility and subcellular localization. In this regard, we find that B12 promotes VRK1 colocalization with cellular DNA during mitosis and that B12 and VRK1 may be tethered cooperatively to chromatin. Next, we observe that the C-terminal tail of VRK1 is unnecessary for B12-VRK1 complex formation or its proviral activity. Interestingly, we identify a point mutation of B12 capable of abrogating interaction with VRK1 and which renders B12 nonrepressive during infection. Lastly, we investigated the influence of B12 on the host factor BAF and antiviral signaling pathways and find that B12 triggers redistribution of BAF from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In addition, B12 increases DNA-induced innate immune signaling, revealing a new functional consequence of the B12 pseudokinase. Together, this study characterizes the multifaceted roles B12 plays during poxvirus infection that impact VRK1, BAF, and innate immune signaling. IMPORTANCE Protein pseudokinases comprise a considerable fraction of the human kinome, as well as other forms of life. Recent studies have demonstrated that their lack of key catalytic residues compared to their kinase counterparts does not negate their ability to intersect with molecular signal transduction. While the multifaceted roles pseudokinases can play are known, their contribution to virus infection remains understudied. Here, we further characterize the mechanism of how the VACV B12 pseudokinase and human VRK1 kinase regulate one another in the nucleus during poxvirus infection and inhibit VACV DNA replication. We find that B12 disrupts regulation of VRK1 and its downstream target BAF, while also enhancing DNA-dependent innate immune signaling. Combined with previous data, these studies contribute to the growing field of nuclear pathways targeted by poxviruses and provide evidence of unexplored roles of B12 in the activation of antiviral immunity.

Cell cycle gene regulation dynamics revealed by RNA velocity and deep-learning

Despite the fact that the cell cycle is a fundamental process of life, a detailed quantitative understanding of gene regulation dynamics throughout the cell cycle is far from complete. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology gives access to these dynamics without externally perturbing the cell. Here, by generating scRNA-seq libraries in different cell systems, we observe cycling patterns in the unspliced-spliced RNA space of cell cycle-related genes. Since existing methods to analyze scRNA-seq are not efficient to measure cycling gene dynamics, we propose a deep learning approach (DeepCycle) to fit these patterns and build a high-resolution map of the entire cell cycle transcriptome. Characterizing the cell cycle in embryonic and somatic cells, we identify major waves of transcription during the G1 phase and systematically study the stages of the cell cycle. Our work will facilitate the study of the cell cycle in multiple cellular models and different biological contexts.

Single-cell RNA-sequencing technology gives access to cell cycle dynamics without externally perturbing the cell. Here the authors present DeepCycle,a robust deep learning method to infer the cell cycle state in single cells from scRNA-seq data.

Role of aurora kinase B in regulating resistance to paclitaxel in breast cancer cells

Aurora kinase B (AURKB) is a type of functional kinase with primary functions of participating in cell mitosis, which has been identified to be involved in the occurrence and development of malignant tumors strongly. However, it still remains a controversial with respect to the relationship between the phosphorylation level of AURKB and its function. In our initial research, there was no significant difference in the relative content of AURKB protein between drug-resistant breast cancer cells and wild-type cells; however, its phosphorylation level in drug-resistant cells was significantly higher than that in wild-type cells. Subsequent cell and animal experiments both confirmed the positive correlation between AURKB phosphorylation and drug resistance. Furthermore, PRKCE in the upstream was identified to regulate the phosphorylation of AURKB, which promoted the change of spatial localization of AURKB from nucleus to cytoplasm. Accordingly, phosphorylated AURKB reduced the negative regulation of downstream RAB27B transcription physically, and interacted with RAB27B in cytoplasm to maintain its protein stability. Eventually, it promoted exosome secretion of drug-resistant cells and drug efflux. Using shRNA to knockdown AURKB expression, using hesperadin to inhibit AURKB activity, mutating the AURKB phosphorylation site, or using siRNA as well as BIM to inhibit the activity of the upstream AURKB phosphorylation regulatory protein PRKCE, all of which directly or indirectly reduce AURKB phosphorylation, are effective in reversing PTX resistance in cells. Collectively, this study provides experimental evidence for PRKCE/AURKB/RAB27B axis in regulating the resistance to paclitaxel (PTX) in breast cancer cells, offering a potential intervention target for reversing drug resistance.

The Abscission Checkpoint: A Guardian of Chromosomal Stability

The abscission checkpoint contributes to the fidelity of chromosome segregation by delaying completion of cytokinesis (abscission) when there is chromatin lagging in the intercellular bridge between dividing cells. Although additional triggers of an abscission checkpoint-delay have been described, including nuclear pore defects, replication stress or high intercellular bridge tension, this review will focus only on chromatin bridges. In the presence of such abnormal chromosomal tethers in mammalian cells, the abscission checkpoint requires proper localization and optimal kinase activity of the Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC)-catalytic subunit Aurora B at the midbody and culminates in the inhibition of Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport-III (ESCRT-III) components at the abscission site to delay the final cut. Furthermore, cells with an active checkpoint stabilize the narrow cytoplasmic canal that connects the two daughter cells until the chromatin bridges are resolved. Unsuccessful resolution of chromatin bridges in checkpoint-deficient cells or in cells with unstable intercellular canals can lead to chromatin bridge breakage or tetraploidization by regression of the cleavage furrow. In turn, these outcomes can lead to accumulation of DNA damage, chromothripsis, generation of hypermutation clusters and chromosomal instability, which are associated with cancer formation or progression. Recently, many important questions regarding the mechanisms of the abscission checkpoint have been investigated, such as how the presence of chromatin bridges is signaled to the CPC, how Aurora B localization and kinase activity is regulated in late midbodies, the signaling pathways by which Aurora B implements the abscission delay, and how the actin cytoskeleton is remodeled to stabilize intercellular canals with DNA bridges. Here, we review recent progress toward understanding the mechanisms of the abscission checkpoint and its role in guarding genome integrity at the chromosome level, and consider its potential implications for cancer therapy.

Spatiotemporal coordination of the RSF1-PLK1-Aurora B cascade establishes mitotic signaling platforms

The chromatin remodeler RSF1 enriched at mitotic centromeres is essential for proper chromosome alignment and segregation and underlying mechanisms remain to be disclosed. We here show that PLK1 recruitment by RSF1 at centromeres creates an activating phosphorylation on Thr236 in the activation loop of Aurora B and this is indispensable for the Aurora B activation. In structural modeling the phosphorylated Thr236 enhances the base catalysis by Asp200 nearby, facilitating the Thr232 autophosphorylation. Accordingly, RSF1-PLK1 is central for Aurora B-mediated microtubule destabilization in error correction. However, under full microtubule-kinetochore attachment RSF1-PLK1 positions at kinetochores, halts activating Aurora B and phosphorylates BubR1, regardless of tension. Spatial movement of RSF1-PLK1 to kinetochores is triggered by Aurora B-mediated phosphorylation of centromeric histone H3 on Ser28. We propose a regulatory RSF1-PLK1 axis that spatiotemporally controls on/off switch on Aurora B. This feedback circuit among RSF1-PLK1-Aurora B may coordinate dynamic microtubule-kinetochore attachment in early mitosis when full tension yet to be generated.

Exploration of the structural requirements of Aurora Kinase B inhibitors by a combined QSAR, modelling and molecular simulation approach

Aurora kinase B plays an important role in the cell cycle to orchestrate the mitotic process. The amplification and overexpression of this kinase have been implicated in several human malignancies. Therefore, Aurora kinase B is a potential drug target for anticancer therapies. Here, we combine atom-based 3D-QSAR analysis and pharmacophore model generation to identify the principal structural features of acylureidoindolin derivatives that could potentially be responsible for the inhibition of Aurora kinase B. The selected CoMFA and CoMSIA model showed significant results with cross-validation values (q²) of 0.68, 0.641 and linear regression values (r²) of 0.971, 0.933 respectively. These values support the statistical reliability of our model. A pharmacophore model was also generated, incorporating features of reported crystal complex structures of Aurora kinase B. The pharmacophore model was used to screen commercial databases to retrieve potential lead candidates. The resulting hits were analyzed at each stage for diversity based on the pharmacophore model, followed by molecular docking and filtering based on their interaction with active site residues and 3D-QSAR predictions. Subsequently, MD simulations and binding free energy calculations were performed to test the predictions and to characterize interactions at the molecular level. The results suggested that the identified compounds retained the interactions with binding residues. Binding energy decomposition identified residues Glu155, Trp156 and Ala157 of site B and Leu83 and Leu207 of site C as major contributors to binding affinity, complementary to 3D-QSAR results. To best of our knowledge, this is the first comparison of WaterSwap field and 3D-QSAR maps. Overall, this integrated strategy provides a basis for the development of new and potential AK-B inhibitors and is applicable to other protein targets.

An ATM-Chk2-INCENP pathway activates the abscission checkpoint

During cell division, in response to chromatin bridges, the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) delays abscission to prevent chromosome breakage or tetraploidization. Here, we show that inhibition of ATM or Chk2 kinases impairs CPC localization to the midbody center, accelerates midbody resolution in normally segregating cells, and correlates with premature abscission and chromatin breakage in cytokinesis with trapped chromatin. In cultured human cells, ATM activates Chk2 at late midbodies. In turn, Chk2 phosphorylates human INCENP-Ser91 to promote INCENP binding to Mklp2 kinesin and CPC localization to the midbody center through Mklp2 association with Cep55. Expression of truncated Mklp2 that does not bind to Cep55 or nonphosphorylatable INCENP-Ser91A impairs CPC midbody localization and accelerates abscission. In contrast, expression of phosphomimetic INCENP-Ser91D or a chimeric INCENP protein that is targeted to the midbody center rescues the abscission delay in Chk2-deficient or ATM-deficient cells. Furthermore, the Mre11–Rad50–Nbs1 complex is required for ATM activation at the midbody in cytokinesis with chromatin bridges. These results identify an ATM–Chk2–INCENP pathway that imposes the abscission checkpoint by regulating CPC midbody localization.

Aurora B Tension Sensing Mechanisms in the Kinetochore Ensure Accurate Chromosome Segregation

The accurate segregation of chromosomes is essential for the survival of organisms and cells. Mistakes can lead to aneuploidy, tumorigenesis and congenital birth defects. The spindle assembly checkpoint ensures that chromosomes properly align on the spindle, with sister chromatids attached to microtubules from opposite poles. Here, we review how tension is used to identify and selectively destabilize incorrect attachments, and thus serves as a trigger of the spindle assembly checkpoint to ensure fidelity in chromosome segregation. Tension is generated on properly attached chromosomes as sister chromatids are pulled in opposing directions but resisted by centromeric cohesin. We discuss the role of the Aurora B kinase in tension-sensing and explore the current models for translating mechanical force into Aurora B-mediated biochemical signals that regulate correction of chromosome attachments to the spindle.

Aurora-B phosphorylates the myosin II heavy chain to promote cytokinesis

Cytokinesis, the final step of mitosis, is mediated by an actomyosin contractile ring, the formation of which is temporally and spatially regulated following anaphase onset. Aurora-B is a member of the chromosomal passenger complex, which regulates various processes during mitosis; it is not understood, however, how Aurora-B is involved in cytokinesis. Here, we show that Aurora-B and myosin-IIB form a complex in vivo during telophase. Aurora-B phosphorylates the myosin-IIB rod domain at threonine 1847 (T¹⁸⁴⁷), abrogating the ability of myosin-IIB monomers to form filaments. Furthermore, phosphorylation of myosin-IIB filaments by Aurora-B also promotes filament disassembly. We show that myosin-IIB possessing a phosphomimetic mutation at T¹⁸⁴⁷ was unable to rescue cytokinesis failure caused by myosin-IIB depletion. Cells expressing a phosphoresistant mutation at T¹⁸⁴⁷ had significantly longer intercellular bridges, implying that Aurora-B-mediated phosphorylation of myosin-IIB is important for abscission. We propose that myosin-IIB is a substrate of Aurora-B and reveal a new mechanism of myosin-IIB regulation by Aurora-B in the late stages of mitosis.

A degron-based strategy reveals new insights into Aurora B function in C. elegans

The widely conserved kinase Aurora B regulates important events during cell division. Surprisingly, recent work has uncovered a few functions of Aurora-family kinases that do not require kinase activity. Thus, understanding this important class of cell cycle regulators will require strategies to distinguish kinase-dependent from independent functions. Here, we address this need in C. elegans by combining germline-specific, auxin-induced Aurora B (AIR-2) degradation with the transgenic expression of kinase-inactive AIR-2. Through this approach, we find that kinase activity is essential for AIR-2’s major meiotic functions and also for mitotic chromosome segregation. Moreover, our analysis revealed insight into the assembly of the ring complex (RC), a structure that is essential for chromosome congression in C. elegans oocytes. AIR-2 localizes to chromosomes and recruits other components to form the RC. However, we found that while kinase-dead AIR-2 could load onto chromosomes, other components were not recruited. This failure in RC assembly appeared to be due to a loss of RC SUMOylation, suggesting that there is crosstalk between SUMOylation and phosphorylation in building the RC and implicating AIR-2 in regulating the SUMO pathway in oocytes. Similar conditional depletion approaches may reveal new insights into other cell cycle regulators.

During cell division, chromosomes must be accurately partitioned to ensure the proper distribution of genetic material. In mitosis, chromosomes are duplicated once and then divided once, generating daughter cells with the same amount of genetic material as the original cell. Conversely, during meiosis chromosomes are duplicated once and divided twice, to cut the chromosome number in half to generate eggs and sperm. One important protein that is required for both mitotic and meiotic chromosome segregation is the kinase Aurora B, which phosphorylates a variety of other cell division proteins. However, previous research has shown that some kinases have functions that are independent of their ability to phosphorylate other proteins. Thus, fully understanding how Aurora B regulates cell division requires methods to test whether its various functions require kinase activity. We designed and implemented such a strategy in the model organism C. elegans, by depleting Aurora B from meiotically and mitotically-dividing cells, leaving in place a kinase-inactive version. This work has lent insight into how Aurora B regulates cell division in C. elegans, and also serves as a proof of principle for our approach, which can now be applied to study other essential cell division kinases.

The Last Chance Saloon

Accurate chromosome segregation requires the removal of all chromatin bridges, which link chromosomes before cell division. When chromatin bridges fail to be removed, cell cycle progression may halt, or cytokinesis failure and ensuing polyploidization may occur. Conversely, the inappropriate severing of chromatin bridges leads to chromosome fragmentation, excessive genome instability at breakpoints, micronucleus formation, and chromothripsis. In this mini-review, we first describe the origins of chromatin bridges, the toxic processing of chromatin bridges by mechanical force, and the TREX1 exonuclease. We then focus on the abscission checkpoint (NoCut) which can confer a transient delay in cytokinesis progression to facilitate bridge resolution. Finally, we describe a recently identified mechanism uncovered in C. elegans where the conserved midbody associated endonuclease LEM-3/ANKLE1 is able to resolve chromatin bridges generated by various perturbations of DNA metabolism at the final stage of cell division. We also discuss how LEM-3 dependent chromatin bridge resolution may be coordinated with abscission checkpoint (NoCut) to achieve an error-free cleavage, therefore acting as a "last chance saloon" to facilitate genome integrity and organismal survival.

Tension promotes kinetochore-microtubule release by Aurora B kinase

To ensure accurate chromosome segregation, interactions between kinetochores and microtubules are regulated by a combination of mechanics and biochemistry. Tension provides a signal to discriminate attachment errors from bi-oriented kinetochores with sisters correctly attached to opposite spindle poles. Biochemically, Aurora B kinase phosphorylates kinetochores to destabilize interactions with microtubules. To link mechanics and biochemistry, current models regard tension as an input signal to locally regulate Aurora B activity. Here, we show that the outcome of kinetochore phosphorylation depends on tension. Using optogenetics to manipulate Aurora B at individual kinetochores, we find that kinase activity promotes microtubule release when tension is high. Conversely, when tension is low, Aurora B activity promotes depolymerization of kinetochore–microtubules while maintaining attachment. Thus, phosphorylation converts a catch-bond, in which tension stabilizes attachments, to a slip-bond, which releases microtubules under tension. We propose that tension is a signal inducing distinct error-correction pathways, with release or depolymerization being advantageous for typical errors characterized by high or low tension, respectively.

Efficacy and Safety of Weekly Paclitaxel With or Without Oral Alisertib in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Elevated expression of AURKA adversely affects prognosis in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and ERBB2 (formerly HER2)-negative and triple-negative breast cancer and is associated with resistance to taxanes.

OBJECTIVE

To compare paclitaxel alone vs paclitaxel plus alisertib in patients with ER-positive and ERBB2-negative or triple-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this randomized clinical trial conducted with the US Oncology Network, participants were randomized to intravenous (IV) paclitaxel 90 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 on a 28-day cycle or IV paclitaxel 60 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 plus oral alisertib 40 mg twice daily on days 1 to 3, 8 to 10, and 15 to 17 on a 28-day cycle. Stratification was by prior neo or adjuvant taxane and by line of metastatic therapy. Eligible patients were those who had undergone endocrine therapy, 0 or 1 prior chemotherapy regimens for MBC, more than 12 months treatment-free interval from neo or adjuvant taxane therapy, and with measurable or evaluable lytic bone-disease. Data were analyzed from March 2019 through May 2019.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The main outcome was progression-free survival (PFS) with secondary end points of overall survival (OS), overall response rate, clinical benefit rate, safety, and analysis of archival breast cancer tissues for molecular markers associated with benefit from alisertib.

RESULTS

A total of 174 patients were randomized, including with 86 randomized to paclitaxel and 88 patients randomized to paclitaxel plus alisertib, and 169 patients received study treatment. The final cohort included 139 patients with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 62 (27-84) years with ER-positive and ERBB2-negative MBC, with 70 randomized to paclitaxel and 69 randomized to paclitaxel plus alisertib. The TNBC cohort closed with only 35 patients enrolled due to slow accrual and were not included in efficacy analyses. The median (IQR) follow-up was 22 (10.6-25.1) months, and median (IQR) PFS was 10.2 (3.8-15.7) months with paclitaxel plus alisertib vs 7.1 (3.8-10.6) months with paclitaxel alone (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.37-0.84; P = .005). Median (IQR) OS was 26.3 (12.4-37.2) months for patients who received paclitaxel plus alisertib vs 25.1 (11.0-31.4) months for paclitaxel alone (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.58-1.38; P = .61). Grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurred in 56 patients (84.8%) receiving paclitaxel plus alisertib vs 34 patients (48.6%) receiving paclitaxel alone. The main grade 3 or 4 adverse events with paclitaxel plus alisertib vs paclitaxel alone were neutropenia (50 patients [59.5%] vs 14 patients [16.4%]), anemia (8 patients [9.5%] vs 1 patient [1.2%]), diarrhea (9 patients [10.7%] vs 0 patients), and stomatitis or oral mucositis (13 patients [15.5%] vs 0 patients). One patient receiving paclitaxel plus alisertib died of sepsis.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This randomized clinical trial found that the addition of oral alisertib to a reduced dose of weekly paclitaxel significantly improved PFS compared with paclitaxel alone, and toxic effects with paclitaxel plus alisertib were manageable with alisertib dose reduction. These data support further evaluation of alisertib in patients with ER-positive, ERBB2-negative MBC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02187991.

A Spatial and Functional Interaction of a Heterotetramer Survivin-DNA-PKcs Complex in DNA Damage Response

Substantial evidence has shown that overexpression of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) survivin in human tumors correlates significantly with treatment resistance and poor patient prognosis. Survivin serves as a radiation resistance factor that impacts the DNA damage response by interacting with DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs). However, the complexity, molecular determinants, and functional consequences of this interrelationship remain largely unknown. By applying coimmunoprecipitation and flow cytometry-based Förster resonance energy transfer assays, we demonstrated a direct involvement of the survivin baculovirus IAP repeat domain in the regulation of radiation survival and DNA repair. This survivin-mediated activity required an interaction of residues S20 and W67 with the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) domain of DNA-PKcs. In silico molecular docking and dynamics simulation analyses, in vitro kinase assays, and large-scale mass spectrometry suggested a heterotetrameric survivin-DNA-PKcs complex that results in a conformational change within the DNA-PKcs PI3K domain. Overexpression of survivin resulted in enhanced PI3K enzymatic activity and detection of differentially abundant phosphopeptides and proteins implicated in the DNA damage response. The survivin-DNA-PKcs interaction altered the S/T-hydrophobic motif substrate specificity of DNA-PKcs with a predominant usage of S/T-P phosphorylation sites and an increase of DNA-PKcs substrates including Foxo3. These data demonstrate that survivin differentially regulates DNA-PKcs-dependent radiation survival and DNA double-strand break repair via formation of a survivin-DNA-PKcs heterotetrameric complex. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings provide insight into survivin-mediated regulation of DNA-PKcs kinase and broaden our knowledge of the impact of survivin in modulating the cellular radiation response.See related commentary by Iliakis, p. 2270 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/81/9/2304/F1.large.jpg.

Phospho-regulation of mitotic spindle assembly

The assembly of the bipolar mitotic spindle requires the careful orchestration of a myriad of enzyme activities like protein posttranslational modifications. Among these, phosphorylation has arisen as the principle mode for spatially and temporally activating the proteins involved in early mitotic spindle assembly processes. Here, we review key kinases, phosphatases, and phosphorylation events that regulate critical aspects of these processes. We highlight key phosphorylation substrates that are important for ensuring the fidelity of centriole duplication, centrosome maturation, and the establishment of the bipolar spindle. We also highlight techniques used to understand kinase-substrate relationships and to study phosphorylation events. We conclude with perspectives on the field of posttranslational modifications in early mitotic spindle assembly.

Human Aurora kinase inhibitor Hesperadin reveals epistatic interaction between Plasmodium falciparum PfArk1 and PfNek1 kinases

Mitosis has been validated by numerous anti-cancer drugs as being a druggable process, and selective inhibition of parasite proliferation provides an obvious opportunity for therapeutic intervention against malaria. Mitosis is controlled through the interplay between several protein kinases and phosphatases. We show here that inhibitors of human mitotic kinases belonging to the Aurora family inhibit P. falciparum proliferation in vitro with various potencies, and that a genetic selection for mutant parasites resistant to one of the drugs, Hesperadin, identifies a resistance mechanism mediated by a member of a different kinase family, PfNek1 (PF3D7_1228300). Intriguingly, loss of PfNek1 catalytic activity provides protection against drug action. This points to an undescribed functional interaction between Ark and Nek kinases and shows that existing inhibitors can be used to validate additional essential and druggable kinase functions in the parasite.

Morahan et al. investigate inhibitors of human mitotic kinases in P. falciparum and show a resistance mechanism to the drug Hesperadin through an epistatic interaction between the PfArk1 and PfNek1 kinases. This study demonstrates that existing inhibitors can be used to validate additional essential and druggable kinase functions in the parasite.

Unraveling novel survivin mRNA transcripts in cancer cells using an in-house developed targeted high-throughput sequencing approach

The human baculoviral IAP repeat containing 5 (BIRC5), also known as survivin, is a conserved member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAPs) family, which is normally expressed during embryonic and fetal development. Although the expression levels of survivin are low in terminally differentiated cells and/or tissues, they can be found notably increased in certain pathological conditions including malignant tumors. Conventional cloning and sequencing techniques have already confirmed that alternative splicing events of the survivin pre-mRNA result in five distinct alternative transcript variants. In the present study, however, we implemented an innovative, in-house developed, targeted DNA-seq assay to identify novel survivin alternative transcript variants with increased depth and coverage that high-throughput sequencing approaches offer. Bioinformatics analysis of the derived NGS datasets unveiled several novel splice junctions between annotated exons of survivin gene as well as the existence of a novel exon of 117 nt, spanning between the annotated exons 3 and 3B. Validation of the NGS findings with PCR-based assays, using variant-specific primers, led to the identification of fourteen novel survivin alternative splice variants (BIRC5 v.4 - v.17), which demonstrate wide expression profiles in a broad established panel of human cell lines. Although the presented novel findings provide a crystal-clear overview of the survivin mRNAs that are actually generated from the pre-mRNA, future studies should focus on the impending necessity of characterizing the biological function of all novel alternative transcript variants as well as the putative protein isoforms. Such studies will further contribute to our understanding of how the balance between survivin isoforms regulate malignant cell proliferation and apoptosis, providing novel diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets.

Establishing correct kinetochore-microtubule attachments in mitosis and meiosis

Faithful chromosome segregation in mitosis and meiosis requires that chromosomes properly attach to spindle microtubules. Initial kinetochore-microtubule attachments are often incorrect and rely on error correction mechanisms to release improper attachments, allowing the formation of new attachments. Aurora B kinase and, in mammalian germ cells, Aurora C kinase function as the enzymatic component of the Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC), which localizes to the inner centromere/kinetochore and phosphorylates kinetochore proteins for microtubule release during error correction. In this review, we discuss recent findings of the molecular pathways that regulate the chromosomal localization of Aurora B and C kinases in human cell lines, mice, fission yeast, and budding yeast. We also discuss differences in the importance of localization pathways between mitosis and meiosis.