Spatio-Temporal Expression Patterns of Aurora Kinases A, B in Mouse Zygotes during the First Mitosis

Objective To investigate the expression and localization of Aurora kinase A (AURKA) and Aurora kinase B (AURKB) in mouse zygotes during the process of the first mitosis. Methods Quantitative real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to analyze the expression of AURKA and AURKB. The subcellular location of AURKA and AURKB was studied by confocal microscopy. Results AURKA and AURKB were increasingly expressed from phase G 1 and peaked at phase M. After the entrance into mitosis AURKB became the predominant form both in mRNA and protein levels. The proteins of AURKA and AURKB both distributed in the cytoplasm and were associated with nucleus during the first mitosis of mouse zygotes, with some details in different. Conclusion The expression and localization of Aurora kinases A and B was in a cellcycle regulated manner during the process of the cleavage of mouse zygotes. This discovery will aid in future investigations on their specific roles and molecular mechanisms in the regulation of mammalian early embryonic development.