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Updated: May 20, 2026
06:29
Real-Time Monitoring of Aurora kinase A Activation using Conformational FRET Biosensors in Live Cells
Published on: July 30, 2020
Aurora kinase-A deficiency during skin development impairs cell division and stratification
Enrique C Torchia1, Lei Zhang, Aaron J Huebner
1Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology
|July 27, 2012
Summary
Aurora kinase-A (Aurora-A) is crucial for skin development. Its absence in mice leads to thin, fragile skin with impaired cell division and stratification, highlighting Aurora-A
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Aurora kinase-A (Aurora-A) regulates mitosis, centrosome maturation, and spindle formation.
- Its role in skin development and homeostasis is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of Aurora-A in mouse skin development and maintenance.
Main Methods:
- Generated Aurora-A deficient mice (Aurora-A(-/-)) using K14.Cre and floxed Aurora-A.
- Performed histological analysis, dye exclusion assays, and examined keratinocyte proliferation and apoptosis.
Main Results:
- Aurora-A(-/-) mice exhibited translucent, thin, and fragile skin with erosions.
- Epidermis showed reduced basal keratinocytes and suprabasal layers, with impaired barrier function.
- Deficiency led to aberrant mitosis, increased cell death, polyploidy, and centrosomal abnormalities in keratinocytes.
Conclusions:
- Aurora-A is essential for normal skin development and homeostasis.
- Aurora-A deletion disrupts keratinocyte division, stratification, and centrosome function.
- Impaired Aurora-A function leads to severe skin defects and neonatal lethality.
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