Abstract LB-287: TPX2 acts as a scaffold and co-activator protein for the oncogenic kinase Aurora B

Abstract

Abstract Aurora B kinase is a master regulator of mitosis and is over-expressed in a variety of malignancies including astrocytomas, seminomas, ependymomas, prostate cancer and non small-cell lung cancer. Several Aurora B inhibitors are currently being evaluated for their efficacy in cancer therapy. Therefore, it is critical to understand the regulation of Aurora B activity by other proteins. Aurora B forms the enzymatic core of the Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC). The CPC consists of three other proteins besides Aurora B: INCENP, Survivin and Borealin. All these proteins have been known to promote Aurora B activation. The mitotic protein Targeting Protein for Xenopus kinesin-like protein 2 (TPX2) co-localizes with Aurora B at several stages of mitosis, hinting at the existence of a signaling cross-talk between Aurora B and TPX2. The main purpose of our study is to determine whether Aurora B and TPX2 can cross-talk with each other during mitosis, and if found so, to decode the mechanism by which this signaling cross-talk occurs. We hypothesize that TPX2 can transmit signals to regulate Aurora B activity during mitosis. To test our hypothesis, we have performed experiments utilizing M-phase Xenopus egg extracts (XEE) which possess an abundance of mitotic proteins, and human cell lines as model systems. By performing immunoprecipitation assays (IPs) in M-phase XEE, we detected an interaction between TPX2 and the CPC proteins - Aurora B, INCENP and Survivin. This validates the existence of a signaling cross-talk between TPX2 and the CPC proteins. Moreover, IPs and microtubule pelleting assays utilizing XEE revealed that, as is typical of scaffold proteins, either too much or too little TPX2 alters Aurora B activity. Significantly, immunodepletion of endogenous TPX2 from XEE decreases the association between Aurora B and its activators- Survivin and INCENP, leading to a consequent reduction in Aurora B activity. Additionally, in vitro binding assays demonstrate that, residues 138 to 328 of Xenopus TPX2 (TPX2 B) are sufficient to enhance the interaction between Aurora B and its activator, Survivin. Further, TPX2 B also increases Aurora B kinase activity in an in vitro kinase assay. These data suggest that under endogenous conditions, TPX2 functions as a co-activator of Aurora B by increasing Aurora B-Survivin and Aurora B-INCENP interactions. Importantly, IPs with Panc-1 and CFPAC-1 pancreatic cancer cell lines suggest that this mechanism of Aurora B activation by TPX2 is likely to be conserved in human cancer cell lines. Based upon our results, we conclude that TPX2 enhances Aurora B activity by serving as a scaffold protein for assembly of the CPC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-287. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-287