Kinetochore-centrosome feedback linking CENP-E and Aurora kinases controls chromosome congression

Chromosome congression is crucial for accurate cell division, with key roles played by kinetochore components CENP-E/kinesin-7 and Aurora B kinase. However, Aurora kinases both inhibit and promote congression, suggesting the presence of a larger signaling network. Our study demonstrates that centrosomes inhibit congression initiation when CENP-E is inactive by regulating the activity of kinetochore components. Depleting centrioles via Plk4 inhibition allows chromosomes near acentriolar poles to initiate congression independently of CENP-E. At centriolar poles high Aurora A enhances Aurora B activity, increasing phosphorylation of microtubule-binding proteins at kinetochores and preventing stable microtubule attachments in the absence of CENP-E. Conversely, inhibiting Aurora A or expressing a dephosphorylatable Hec1 mutant enables congression initiation without CENP-E. We propose a self-limiting feedback mechanism involving Aurora kinases and CENP-E that regulates the timing of chromosome movement by modulating kinetochore-microtubule attachments and fibrous corona expansion, with Aurora A activity gradient providing critical spatial cues for the network’s function.