Aurora A/B

Aurora proteins are a family of serine/threonine kinases crucial for cell cycle control. Mutations of this kinase caused the formation of monopolar spindles surrounded by kinase, and the appearance of this was reminiscent of the Aurora borealis at the poles of the earth. Mammals express three closely related Aurora kinases named Aurora A, Aurora B, and Aurora C.

Mammalian genomes encode 3 Aurora kinases named Aurora A, Aurora B, and Aurora C. All 3 contain a regulatory domain at the N terminus which is quite different between the molecules followed by a catalytic serine/threonine kinase domain which is almost identical between them. As a consequence, antibodies raised against one Aurora family member frequently cross-react with other family members. Since there is a short C-terminal peptide which is also variable between the three molecules. Aurora A is first associated with centrosomes and then with spindle microtubules whereas Aurora B localizes to the spinal midzone and finally accumulates at the midbody. MO22159 is an excellent reagent for the visualization of midbodies, centrosomes and spindles in dividing cells. The antibody was tested for binding to expressed human Aurora A, B and C and shown to react with both Aurora A and B, but not C (see Blot image)