This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Eight years ago, Aurora kinase A was classified as an oncogene. This protein has been found at high levels in many forms of cancer, including gastric, colorectal, breast, esophageal and lung cancers ?indeed, as many as 86% of lung cancers exhibit inappropriate expression of Aurora A. Simply overexpressing this kinase can transform certain normal cells into tumors. Importantly, tumors generated by high Aurora A kinase activity demonstrate increased resistance to drugs that target microtubule formation, including Taxol. In fact, clinical trials are currently underway for small molecule inhibitors of Aurora kinase activity in treating cancer. However, very little is known about the molecular targets of this kinase. How does this transformation occur? Are proteins outside of the normal function of Aurora A involved in this process? It is the goal of the current proposal to tap into the combined power of high performance mass spectrometry, quantitative strategies in proteomics, and selective phosphopeptide enrichment methods to comprehensively characterize substrates of Aurora A kinase, on a proteome-wide scale. This information is a critical foundation from which we can begin to understand how unregulated Aurora A kinase activity causes lung cancer, and how to treat it.
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