Antibody Panel for the Detection of Aurora Kinase Family: Aurora A / STK15 / ARK1, Aurora B / STK12 / ARK2 and Aurora C / STK13 / AIK3

Chromosomal segregation during mitosis as well as meiosis is regulated by kinases and phosphatases. The Aurora kinases associate with microtubules during chromosome movement and segregation. Aurora kinase B localizes to microtubules near kinetochores, specifically to the specialized microtubules called K-fibers, and Aurora kinase A localizes to centrosomes.

Zhou et al. (1998) found that STK15 is involved in the induction of centrosome duplication-distribution abnormalities and aneuploidy in mammalian cells. Centrosomes appear to maintain genomic stability through the establishment of bipolar spindles during cell division, ensuring equal segregation of replicated chromosomes to 2 daughter cells. Deregulated duplication and distribution of centrosomes are implicated in chromosome segregation abnormalities, leading to aneuploidy seen in many cancer cell types. In addition amplification of STK15 could be demonstrated in approximately 12% of primary breast tumors, as well as in breast, ovarian, colon, prostate, neuroblastoma, and cervical cancer cell lines. High expression of STK15 mRNA was detected in tumor cell lines without evidence of gene amplification. Ectopic expression of STK15 in mouse NIH 3T3 cells led to the appearance of abnormal centrosome number (amplification) and transformation in vitro. Finally, overexpression of STK15 in near-diploid human breast epithelial cells revealed similar centrosome abnormality, as well as induction of aneuploidy. Aurora kinase A is a key regulatory component of the p53 pathway and overexpression of aurora kinase A leads to increased degradation of p53, causing downregulation of checkpoint-response pathways and facilitating oncogenic transformation of cells. These findings suggested that STK15 is a critical kinase-encoding gene, whose overexpression leads to centrosome amplification, chromosomal instability, and transformation in mammalian cells.

Aurora Kinase B is a Ser/Thr protein kinase member of the Aurora subfamily that may be directly involved in regulating the cleavage of polar spindle microtubules and is a key regulator for the onset of cytokinesis during mitosis. Aurora Kinase B is localized to the midzone of central spindle in late anaphase and concentrated into the midbody in telophase and cytokinesis and is colocalized with gamma tubulin in the mid-body. High levels of Aurora B expression are seen in the thymus, although it is also expressed in the spleen, lung, testis, colon, placenta and fetal liver. Aurora B is expressed during S and G2/M phase and expression is up-regulated in cancer cells during M phase.

Figure shows a model of Aurora B, INCENP, and Survivin interactions and regulation. Survivin binds the N-terminus of INCENP, whereas the N terminus of Aurora B binds the C-terminus of INCENP

Human Aurora Kinase C (AURKC, STK13) acts as a chromosomal passenger protein and forms complexes with AURKB and INCENP. AURKC phosphorylated histone H3 in vitro. INCENP bound and activated AURKC in vivo and in vitro, and AURKC coexpressed with INCENP elicited histone H3 phosphorylation of interphase cells. Using an in vitro kinase assay, Yan et al. (2005) found that AURKC-SV could phosphorylate a test substrate protein, and its activity depended on thr179. During cell mitosis, AURKC-SV associated with chromosomes in prophase and metaphase, and then transferred to the central spindle midzone and the cortex where the contracting ring formed during the transition from anaphase to telophase. It remained in the midbody during cytokinesis.

Antibody Panel to Aurora Kinase Subfamily (Aurora A / STK15 antibody, Aurora B / STK12 antibody, Aurora C / STK13 antibody)

Acris Antibodies offers a collection of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to members of the Aurora kinase family (Aurora A / STK15 antibody, Aurora B / STK12 antibody, Aurora C / STK13 antibody) . These antibodies are usefull for detection of Aurora Kinases using western blotting and immunohistochemistry methods, but also other immunological applications, like immunocytochemistry and immunoprecipitation.

Available antibodies to Aurora Kinases: Aurora A antibody, STK15 antibody, ARK1 antibody, Aurora B antibody, STK12 antibody, ARK2 antibody, Aurora C antibody, STK13 antibody, AIK3 antibody

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