It is well established that Aurora kinases perform critical functions during mitosis. It has become increasingly clear that the Aurora kinases also perform a myriad of non-mitotic functions including DNA damage response. The available evidence indicates that inhibition Aurora kinase A (AURKA) may contribute to the G₂ DNA damage checkpoint through AURKA’s functions in PLK1 and CDC25B activation. Both AURKA and Aurora kinase B (AURKB) are also essential in mitotic DNA damage response that guard against DNA damage-induced chromosome segregation errors, including the control of abscission checkpoint and prevention of micronuclei formation. Dysregulation of Aurora kinases can trigger DNA damage in mitosis that is sensed in the subsequent G₁ by a p53-dependent postmitotic checkpoint. Aurora kinases are themselves linked to the G₁ DNA damage checkpoint through p53 and p73 pathways. Finally, several lines of evidence provide a connection between Aurora kinases and DNA repair and apoptotic pathways. Although more studies are required to provide a comprehensive picture of how cells respond to DNA damage, these findings indicate that both AURKA and AURKB are inextricably linked to pathways guarding against DNA damage. They also provide a rationale to support more detailed studies on the synergism between small-molecule inhibitors against Aurora kinases and DNA-damaging agents in cancer therapies.

公认的是，Aurora激酶在有丝分裂过程中起关键作用。越来越清楚的是，Aurora激酶还具有多种非有丝分裂功能，包括DNA损伤反应。现有证据表明，抑制性极光激酶A（AURKA）可能通过AURKA在PLK1和CDC25B激活中的功能而对G ₂ DNA损伤检查点起作用。AURKA和Aurora激酶B（AURKB）在有丝分裂DNA损伤反应中也必不可少，该反应可防止DNA损伤引起的染色体分离错误，包括控制脱落检查点和防止微核形成。Aurora激酶的失调可以触发有丝分裂中的DNA损伤，这在随后的G ₁中可以感觉到通过p53依赖的有丝分裂后检查点。Aurora激酶本身通过p53和p73途径与G ₁ DNA损伤检查点相连。最后，一些证据提供了Aurora激酶与DNA修复和凋亡途径之间的联系。尽管需要更多的研究来提供细胞如何应对DNA损伤的全面图片，但这些发现表明AURKA和AURKB都与防止DNA损伤的途径密不可分。他们还提供了理论依据，以支持对抗Aurora激酶的小分子抑制剂与DNA损伤剂在癌症治疗中的协同作用进行更详细的研究。