Aurora A kinase interacts with and phosphorylates VHL protein

Abstract

The serine/threonin kinase Aurora A is an oncoprotein, whereas von Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL) is a tumor suppressor protein. Both proteins have the same localization during mitosis: in the mitotic spindle and the centrosome. These two proteins also have common functions, such as the regulation of the cell cycle, the stability of the mitotic spindle and both intervene in the functioning of centrosomes. In this study we have analyzed the interaction between Aurora A and pVHL with immunoprecipitation and in vitro phosphorylation experiments. We have confirmed that the immunoprecipitation of pVHL from Hek 293 cell extracts were coupled with Aurora A. In addition, the interaction between the two proteins has been tested by analyzing the phosphorylation of pVHL in vitro by Aurora A. The results revealed that pVHL was phosphorylated by Aurora A. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that Aurora A interacts with and phosphorylates pVHL. Given the role of these two proteins in cell division as well as their status in cancer, this interaction requires further investigation. © 2012 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.