From UniProt: Disruptive regulation of expression is a possible mechanism of the perturbation of chromosomal integrity in cancer cells through its dominant-negative effect on cytokinesis.

     From NCBI Gene: This gene encodes a member of the aurora kinase subfamily of serine/threonine kinases. The genes encoding the other two members of this subfamily are located on chromosomes 19 and 20. These kinases participate in the regulation of alignment and segregation of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis through association with microtubules. A pseudogene of this gene is located on chromosome 8. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2015] From UniProt: Serine/threonine-protein kinase component of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), a complex that acts as a key regulator of mitosis. The CPC complex has essential functions at the centromere in ensuring correct chromosome alignment and segregation and is required for chromatin-induced microtubule stabilization and spindle assembly. Involved in the bipolar attachment of spindle microtubules to kinetochores and is a key regulator for the onset of cytokinesis during mitosis. Required for central/midzone spindle assembly and cleavage furrow formation. Key component of the cytokinesis checkpoint, a process required to delay abscission to prevent both premature resolution of intercellular chromosome bridges and accumulation of DNA damage: phosphorylates CHMP4C, leading to retain abscission-competent VPS4 (VPS4A and/or VPS4B) at the midbody ring until abscission checkpoint signaling is terminated at late cytokinesis (PubMed:22422861, PubMed:24814515). AURKB phosphorylates the CPC complex subunits BIRC5/survivin, CDCA8/borealin and INCENP. Phosphorylation of INCENP leads to increased AURKB activity. Other known AURKB substrates involved in centromeric functions and mitosis are CENPA, DES/desmin, GPAF, KIF2C, NSUN2, RACGAP1, SEPT1, VIM/vimentin, GSG2/Haspin, and histone H3. A positive feedback loop involving GSG2 and AURKB contributes to localization of CPC to centromeres. Phosphorylation of VIM controls vimentin filament segregation in cytokinetic process, whereas histone H3 is phosphorylated at 'Ser-10' and 'Ser-28' during mitosis (H3S10ph and H3S28ph, respectively). A positive feedback between GSG2 and AURKB contributes to CPC localization. AURKB is also required for kinetochore localization of BUB1 and SGO1. Phosphorylation of p53/TP53 negatively regulates its transcriptional activity. Key regulator of active promoters in resting B- and T-lymphocytes: acts by mediating phosphorylation of H3S28ph at active promoters in resting B-cells, inhibiting RNF2/RING1B-mediated ubiquitination of histone H2A and enhancing binding and activity of the USP16 deubiquitinase at transcribed genes.

The following transcription factors affect gene expression:

• PPAR-gamma1
• PPAR-gamma2
• SREBP-1a
• SREBP-1b
• SREBP-1c

Tissue specificity:

High level expression seen in the thymus. It is also expressed in the spleen, lung, testis, colon, placenta and fetal liver. Expressed during S and G2/M phase and expression is up-regulated in cancer cells during M phase.

Induction:

Expression is cell cycle-regulated, with a low in G1/S, an increase during G2 and M. Expression decreases again after M phase.

Enzyme Regulation:

Activity is greatly increased when AURKB is within the CPC complex. In particular, AURKB-phosphorylated INCENP acts as an activator of AURKB. Positive feedback between GSG2 and AURKB contributes to CPC localization.

Molecular Function:

• Protein Serine/Threonine Kinase Activity
• Protein Serine/Threonine/Tyrosine Kinase Activity
• Atp Binding
• Histone Serine Kinase Activity
• Metal Ion Binding

Biological Processes:

• Negative Regulation Of Transcription From Rna Polymerase Ii Promoter
• Negative Regulation Of B Cell Apoptotic Process
• Protein Phosphorylation
• Spindle Organization
• Sister Chromatid Cohesion
• Aging
• Cell Proliferation
• Attachment Of Spindle Microtubules To Kinetochore
• Abscission
• Histone Modification
• Protein Sumoylation
• Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Dependent Catabolic Process
• Spindle Checkpoint
• Positive Regulation Of Telomere Maintenance Via Telomerase
• Negative Regulation Of Cytokinesis
• Positive Regulation Of Cytokinesis
• Protein Localization To Kinetochore
• Cellular Response To Uv
• Cleavage Furrow Formation
• Protein Ubiquitination Involved In Ubiquitin-Dependent Protein Catabolic Process
• Histone H3-S28 Phosphorylation
• Protein Autophosphorylation
• Mitotic Spindle Midzone Assembly
• Positive Regulation Of Telomerase Activity
• Regulation Of Chromosome Segregation
• Regulation Of Signal Transduction By P53 Class Mediator
• Positive Regulation Of Telomere Capping