The centrosomal protein Lats2 is a phosphorylation target of Aurora-A kinase

Genes Cells. 2004 May;9(5):383-97. doi: 10.1111/j.1356-9597.2004.00732.x.

Abstract

Human Lats2, a novel serine/threonine kinase, is a member of the Lats kinase family that includes the Drosophila tumour suppressor lats/warts. Lats1, a counterpart of Lats2, is phosphorylated in mitosis and localized to the mitotic apparatus. However, the regulation, function and intracellular distribution of Lats2 remain unclear. Here, we show that Lats2 is a novel phosphorylation target of Aurora-A kinase. We first showed that the phosphorylated residue of Lats2 is S83 in vitro. Antibody that recognizes this phosphorylated S83 indicated that the phosphorylation also occurs in vivo. We found that Lats2 transiently interacts with Aurora-A, and that Lats2 and Aurora-A co-localize at the centrosomes during the cell cycle. Furthermore, we showed that the inhibition of Aurora-A-induced phosphorylation of S83 on Lats2 partially perturbed its centrosomal localization. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that S83 of Lats2 is a phosphorylation target of Aurora-A and this phosphorylation plays a role of the centrosomal localization of Lats2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aurora Kinases
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Centrosome / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Spindle Apparatus / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Xenopus Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • Serine
  • Protein Kinases
  • LATS2 protein, human
  • AURKA protein, Xenopus
  • Aurora Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases