Aurora kinase (AURK) (AURK)

Aurora kinases are a family of highly conserved serine/threonine kinases—specifically Aurora A, Aurora B, and Aurora C—that serve as master regulators of the mitotic phase of the cell cycle (PubMed: 15549033). Aurora A is critical for centrosome maturation and spindle assembly, while Aurora B functions as a catalytic component of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) to regulate chromosome-microtubule attachment and cytokinesis (UniProt: O14965, Q96GD4). Aurora C is primarily expressed in germ cells and plays a specialized role in meiosis, though it is also found overexpressed in certain cancers (PubMed: 15146186). Due to their frequent overexpression in various human malignancies, including breast, colon, and lung cancers, these kinases are significant targets for anti-cancer drug development (StatPearls: NBK560640). Therapeutic strategies involve small-molecule inhibitors that typically compete with ATP for the kinase binding site, leading to mitotic arrest, polyploidy, and eventually apoptosis in tumor cells (PubMed: 24107125). Clinical challenges include managing off-target effects and dose-limiting toxicities such as myelosuppression (PubMed: 21460330).

Other names

Aurora-AAurora-BAurora-CSerine/threonine-protein kinase 6Serine/threonine-protein kinase 12Serine/threonine-protein kinase 13STK15STK12STK13AIKBTAKARK1ARK2

ATP-competitive inhibition of Aurora kinase activity, which disrupts mitotic spindle assembly and chromosome segregation, leading to mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis (PubMed: 24107125).