biostudies-literatureBlas-Rus NEuropean Research Council11389https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4838898biostudies-literatureUnknown7Aurora A is a serine/threonine kinase that contributes to the progression of mitosis by inducing microtubule nucleation. Here we have identified an unexpected role for Aurora A kinase in antigen-driven T-cell activation. We find that Aurora A is phosphorylated at the immunological synapse (IS) during TCR-driven cell contact. Inhibition of Aurora A with pharmacological agents or genetic deletion in human or mouse T cells severely disrupts the dynamics of microtubules and CD3ζ-bearing vesicles at the IS. The absence of Aurora A activity also impairs the activation of early signalling molecules downstream of the TCR and the expression of IL-2, CD25 and CD69. Aurora A inhibition causes delocalized clustering of Lck at the IS and decreases phosphorylation levels of tyrosine kinase Lck, thus indNature communicationsAurora A drives early signalling and vesicle dynamics during T-cell activation.PMC4838898334763294340Sanchez-Madrid Fde Carcer GAlarcon BMalumbres MBorroto AJorge IVazquez JBustos-Moran EBlas-Rus NCamafeita EPerez de Castro IMartin-Cofreces NBfalseAurora A drives early signalling and vesicle dynamics during T-cell activation.Aurora A is a serine/threonine kinase that contributes to the progression of mitosis by inducing microtubule nucleation. Here we have identified an unexpected role for Aurora A kinase in antigen-driven T-cell activation. We find that Aurora A is phosphorylated at the immunological synapse (IS) during TCR-driven cell contact. Inhibition of Aurora A with pharmacological agents or genetic deletion in human or mouse T cells severely disrupts the dynamics of microtubules and CD3ζ-bearing vesicles at the IS. The absence of Aurora A activity also impairs the activation of early signalling molecules downstream of the TCR and the expression of IL-2, CD25 and CD69. Aurora A inhibition causes delocalized clustering of Lck at the IS and decreases phosphorylation levels of tyrosine kinase Lck, thus ind2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Apr2025-04-22T20:02:51.386Z2019-03-27T02:12:05ZS-EPMC48388982709110610.1038/ncomms11389