Arianna Esposito Verza, @andrea-musacchio.bsky.social et al describe the long-sought-after mechanism of Bora dependency of PLK1 activation by Aurora A kinase during mitotic entry
Another #RefereedPreprint ℅ @reviewcommons.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Another #RefereedPreprint ℅ @reviewcommons.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Molecular requirements for PLK1 activation by T-loop phosphorylation - The EMBO Journal
Activation of PLK1, a master mitotic kinase, requires phosphorylation of its activation segment on Thr210, within a basic consensus sequence for Aurora kinases. Aurora B-dependent phosphorylation of T...
link.springer.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Arianna Esposito Verza, @andrea-musacchio.bsky.social et al describe the long-sought-after mechanism of Bora dependency of PLK1 activation by Aurora A kinase during mitotic entry
Another #RefereedPreprint ℅ @reviewcommons.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Another #RefereedPreprint ℅ @reviewcommons.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Two new papers from the lab published in The EMBO Journal!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
By Kai Walstein, @louisa-hill.bsky.social and others – On role of M18BP1 in CENP-A loading
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
By Arianna Esposito Verza and others – On mechanism of activation of PLK1
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
By Kai Walstein, @louisa-hill.bsky.social and others – On role of M18BP1 in CENP-A loading
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
By Arianna Esposito Verza and others – On mechanism of activation of PLK1
February 2, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Two new papers from the lab published in The EMBO Journal!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
By Kai Walstein, @louisa-hill.bsky.social and others – On role of M18BP1 in CENP-A loading
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
By Arianna Esposito Verza and others – On mechanism of activation of PLK1
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
By Kai Walstein, @louisa-hill.bsky.social and others – On role of M18BP1 in CENP-A loading
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
By Arianna Esposito Verza and others – On mechanism of activation of PLK1
nevermore nevermore
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLK1...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLK1...
"ネヴァモア" sasalasa (sasakure.UK × lasah) / nevermore
YouTube video by sasakure. UK
www.youtube.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:03 PM
nevermore nevermore
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLK1...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLK1...
PLK1 is associated with #cancer progression and correlates with patient survival in cutaneous #melanoma. This study uses a mouse model of melanoma to show that PLK1 stabilizes BACH1, which regulates genes involved in cancer metabolism & #metastasis @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4omT3qW
November 27, 2025 at 2:07 PM
PLK1 is associated with #cancer progression and correlates with patient survival in cutaneous #melanoma. This study uses a mouse model of melanoma to show that PLK1 stabilizes BACH1, which regulates genes involved in cancer metabolism & #metastasis @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4omT3qW
When I was at BaobabAiBIO, I was hesitant to publish the results because the PLK1 map was incomplete (I wrote about my concerns on Twitter).
Before quitting my job, I tried to finish at least these 2 things:
- getting a complete PLK1 map
- uploading MBP/PLK1 data to EMPIAR
Before quitting my job, I tried to finish at least these 2 things:
- getting a complete PLK1 map
- uploading MBP/PLK1 data to EMPIAR
This is an *excellent* review, and I hadn’t heard of PREreview before and I love the idea!
On another note (as you & Gabe highlight) looking at the PLK1 map really brings home that we need mandatory reporting of some kind of anisotropy metric - that map is not buildable, & def not close to 3Å IMHO
On another note (as you & Gabe highlight) looking at the PLK1 map really brings home that we need mandatory reporting of some kind of anisotropy metric - that map is not buildable, & def not close to 3Å IMHO
August 19, 2025 at 11:00 PM
When I was at BaobabAiBIO, I was hesitant to publish the results because the PLK1 map was incomplete (I wrote about my concerns on Twitter).
Before quitting my job, I tried to finish at least these 2 things:
- getting a complete PLK1 map
- uploading MBP/PLK1 data to EMPIAR
Before quitting my job, I tried to finish at least these 2 things:
- getting a complete PLK1 map
- uploading MBP/PLK1 data to EMPIAR
✍️ The Pintard Lab ( @ccdlab.bsky.social ) published a new article
📖 @embojournal.org
📃 Molecular basis for the activation of Aurora A and Plk1 kinases during mitotic entry
🔗 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
📖 @embojournal.org
📃 Molecular basis for the activation of Aurora A and Plk1 kinases during mitotic entry
🔗 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
January 30, 2026 at 9:22 AM
✍️ The Pintard Lab ( @ccdlab.bsky.social ) published a new article
📖 @embojournal.org
📃 Molecular basis for the activation of Aurora A and Plk1 kinases during mitotic entry
🔗 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
📖 @embojournal.org
📃 Molecular basis for the activation of Aurora A and Plk1 kinases during mitotic entry
🔗 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Additional complementary evidence
by Arianna Esposito Verza, @andrea-musacchio.bsky.social et al
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
and by Anais Pillan, Lionel Pintard @ccdlab.bsky.social et al
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
in our sister journal @embojournal.org
by Arianna Esposito Verza, @andrea-musacchio.bsky.social et al
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
and by Anais Pillan, Lionel Pintard @ccdlab.bsky.social et al
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
in our sister journal @embojournal.org
Molecular requirements for PLK1 activation by T-loop phosphorylation - The EMBO Journal
Activation of PLK1, a master mitotic kinase, requires phosphorylation of its activation segment on Thr210, within a basic consensus sequence for Aurora kinases. Aurora B-dependent phosphorylation of T...
link.springer.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Additional complementary evidence
by Arianna Esposito Verza, @andrea-musacchio.bsky.social et al
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
and by Anais Pillan, Lionel Pintard @ccdlab.bsky.social et al
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
in our sister journal @embojournal.org
by Arianna Esposito Verza, @andrea-musacchio.bsky.social et al
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
and by Anais Pillan, Lionel Pintard @ccdlab.bsky.social et al
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
in our sister journal @embojournal.org
How exactly does #PLK1 function in prophase?
Peter Lenart @plenart.bsky.social and coworkers find its inhibition to delay #CDK1 activation and mitotic entry, inducing a prolonged and phenotypically variable prophase-like state
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Peter Lenart @plenart.bsky.social and coworkers find its inhibition to delay #CDK1 activation and mitotic entry, inducing a prolonged and phenotypically variable prophase-like state
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
March 3, 2025 at 5:30 PM
How exactly does #PLK1 function in prophase?
Peter Lenart @plenart.bsky.social and coworkers find its inhibition to delay #CDK1 activation and mitotic entry, inducing a prolonged and phenotypically variable prophase-like state
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Peter Lenart @plenart.bsky.social and coworkers find its inhibition to delay #CDK1 activation and mitotic entry, inducing a prolonged and phenotypically variable prophase-like state
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Decoding the language of PLK1 docking motifs and activation mechanisms
Decoding the language of PLK1 docking motifs and activation mechanisms
Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) phosphorylates a plethora of different substrates to regulate key cell cycle processes that include, among others, mitotic entry, chromosome condensation, nuclear envelope breakdown, centrosome maturation, spindle assembly and chromosome biorientation, cytokinesis, and the deposition of the specialized centromere histone CENP-A. Addressing the exact spatial and temporal control of PLK1 activity in these processes and its dynamic interplay with protein phosphatases that counteract mitotic phosphorylation, most notably PP1 and PP2A, has proven especially puzzling. In this review, we focus on the main unknowns in the area of human PLK1 regulation, exploring more specifically an emerging concept that master docking sites, including newly discovered noncanonical motifs, trigger initial local activation of PLK1 that promotes subsequent localized spreading of phosphorylation.
dlvr.it
August 9, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Decoding the language of PLK1 docking motifs and activation mechanisms
I’m pleased to share the latest preprint from the Iyer Lab! 🎉
We uncover a novel role for dynamin in regulating spindle pole assembly and PLK-1 localization during late mitosis in C. elegans embryos.
Read it here 👉 www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
#CellBiology #C_elegans #Cytokinesis
#Dynamin #PLK1
We uncover a novel role for dynamin in regulating spindle pole assembly and PLK-1 localization during late mitosis in C. elegans embryos.
Read it here 👉 www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
#CellBiology #C_elegans #Cytokinesis
#Dynamin #PLK1
doi.org
July 21, 2025 at 11:43 PM
I’m pleased to share the latest preprint from the Iyer Lab! 🎉
We uncover a novel role for dynamin in regulating spindle pole assembly and PLK-1 localization during late mitosis in C. elegans embryos.
Read it here 👉 www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
#CellBiology #C_elegans #Cytokinesis
#Dynamin #PLK1
We uncover a novel role for dynamin in regulating spindle pole assembly and PLK-1 localization during late mitosis in C. elegans embryos.
Read it here 👉 www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
#CellBiology #C_elegans #Cytokinesis
#Dynamin #PLK1
Are you curious about what PLK1 kinase is up to these days? Have a look at our latest review on @cp-trendscellbio.bsky.social. Arianna Esposito Verza, @andrea-musacchio.bsky.social and I discuss the latest findings on a very important enzyme that is still full of surprises, 35+ years from discovery!
August 9, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Are you curious about what PLK1 kinase is up to these days? Have a look at our latest review on @cp-trendscellbio.bsky.social. Arianna Esposito Verza, @andrea-musacchio.bsky.social and I discuss the latest findings on a very important enzyme that is still full of surprises, 35+ years from discovery!
New in @embojournal.org: Polo/PLK1 phosphorylation relieves Cnn autoinhibition to drive centrosome scaffold assembly. Human CDK5RAP2 appears to share the fly-like mechanism.
Polo/PLK1 phosphorylation relieves Centrosomin/Cnn autoinhibition to promote centrosome scaffold assembly - The EMBO Journal
Mitotic centrosome maturation requires Polo/PLK1-dependent expansion of the pericentriolar material (PCM). In Drosophila, Centrosomin (Cnn) assembles a scaffold around mitotic centrioles through inter...
link.springer.com
July 31, 2026 at 4:09 PM
New in @embojournal.org: Polo/PLK1 phosphorylation relieves Cnn autoinhibition to drive centrosome scaffold assembly. Human CDK5RAP2 appears to share the fly-like mechanism.
Centrosome assembly is triggered by relief of autoinhibition – @jordanraff.bsky.social, @hymanlab.bsky.social, @smlea.bsky.social et al now show Polo/PLK1 phosphorylation unlocks Centrosomin/Cnn scaffolding in a conserved mechanism for mitotic centrosome maturation
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Polo/PLK1 phosphorylation relieves Centrosomin/Cnn autoinhibition to promote centrosome scaffold assembly - The EMBO Journal
Mitotic centrosome maturation requires Polo/PLK1-dependent expansion of the pericentriolar material (PCM). In Drosophila, Centrosomin (Cnn) assembles a scaffold around mitotic centrioles through inter...
link.springer.com
July 30, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Centrosome assembly is triggered by relief of autoinhibition – @jordanraff.bsky.social, @hymanlab.bsky.social, @smlea.bsky.social et al now show Polo/PLK1 phosphorylation unlocks Centrosomin/Cnn scaffolding in a conserved mechanism for mitotic centrosome maturation
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Additional complementary evidence from @molecularrichard.bsky.social and colleagues in our sister journal @emboreports.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Bora bridges Aurora-A activation and substrate recognition of PLK1 - EMBO Reports
The activation of PLK1 in late G2 is critical for mitotic entry, requiring its phosphorylation by Aurora-A, facilitated by the intrinsically disordered protein Bora. The structural basis of this mecha...
link.springer.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Additional complementary evidence from @molecularrichard.bsky.social and colleagues in our sister journal @emboreports.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
AlphaFold modeling & new assays for mitotic kinase activation in E. coli (#MITOKINAC) reveal molecular basis of specific Aurora A & PLK1 activation through Bora during mitotic entry
Lionel Pintard @ccdlab.bsky.social et al
#RefereedPreprint ℅ @reviewcommons.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Lionel Pintard @ccdlab.bsky.social et al
#RefereedPreprint ℅ @reviewcommons.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Molecular basis for the activation of Aurora A and Plk1 kinases during mitotic entry - The EMBO Journal
The evolutionarily conserved, intrinsically disordered protein Bora is critical for initiating the activation of mitotic kinases. Once phosphorylated at Ser112 by Cyclin A-Cdk1 kinase, phospho-Bora ac...
link.springer.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:44 PM
AlphaFold modeling & new assays for mitotic kinase activation in E. coli (#MITOKINAC) reveal molecular basis of specific Aurora A & PLK1 activation through Bora during mitotic entry
Lionel Pintard @ccdlab.bsky.social et al
#RefereedPreprint ℅ @reviewcommons.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Lionel Pintard @ccdlab.bsky.social et al
#RefereedPreprint ℅ @reviewcommons.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
PLK1 is associated with #cancer progression and correlates with patient survival in cutaneous #melanoma. This study uses a mouse model of melanoma to show that PLK1 stabilizes BACH1, which regulates genes involved in cancer metabolism & #metastasis @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4omT3qW
November 26, 2025 at 5:45 PM
PLK1 is associated with #cancer progression and correlates with patient survival in cutaneous #melanoma. This study uses a mouse model of melanoma to show that PLK1 stabilizes BACH1, which regulates genes involved in cancer metabolism & #metastasis @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4omT3qW
Thomas & @labmeraldi.bsky.social reveal that #centrosome age can lead to unevenly sized spindles. This unexpected asymmetry results in daughter cells of different sizes via kinase Plk1. rupress.org/jcb/article/...
📙 In our #Cancer Cell Biology collection: rupress.org/jcb/collecti...
#AACR25
📙 In our #Cancer Cell Biology collection: rupress.org/jcb/collecti...
#AACR25
April 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Thomas & @labmeraldi.bsky.social reveal that #centrosome age can lead to unevenly sized spindles. This unexpected asymmetry results in daughter cells of different sizes via kinase Plk1. rupress.org/jcb/article/...
📙 In our #Cancer Cell Biology collection: rupress.org/jcb/collecti...
#AACR25
📙 In our #Cancer Cell Biology collection: rupress.org/jcb/collecti...
#AACR25
PLK1 blockade enhances the anti-tumor effect of MAPK inhibition in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma 🧪 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
PLK1 blockade enhances the anti-tumor effect of MAPK inhibition in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Despite constitutive Ras/Raf/MAPK pathway activation in most pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs), treatment approaches targeting this pathway ha…
www.sciencedirect.com
April 7, 2025 at 7:37 PM
PLK1 blockade enhances the anti-tumor effect of MAPK inhibition in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma 🧪 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Finally, we take advantage of this delay caused by Plk1 inhibition and use phosphoproteomics to identify phosphorylation events that occur early in cell division. Read the full paper here:
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
PLK1 inhibition delays mitotic entry revealing changes to the phosphoproteome of mammalian cells early in division | The EMBO Journal
imageimageThe exact molecular functions of Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) in mitotic prophase are
not fully understood. This study shows that PLK1 inhibition delays activation of CDK1-cyclin
B and halts ce...
www.embopress.org
March 5, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Finally, we take advantage of this delay caused by Plk1 inhibition and use phosphoproteomics to identify phosphorylation events that occur early in cell division. Read the full paper here:
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
🔬 Antibody of the Week: AbFlex® PLK1 antibody (rAb)
Meet our AbFlex® PLK1 antibody, part of our AbFlex recombinant antibody (rAb) collection [https://bit.ly/3JHsQFo]
_________
#AntibodyOfTheWeek #Epigenetics #ActiveMotif #AbFlex #PLK1 #RecombinantAntibody #Research #MolecularBiology
Meet our AbFlex® PLK1 antibody, part of our AbFlex recombinant antibody (rAb) collection [https://bit.ly/3JHsQFo]
_________
#AntibodyOfTheWeek #Epigenetics #ActiveMotif #AbFlex #PLK1 #RecombinantAntibody #Research #MolecularBiology
November 11, 2025 at 6:50 PM
🔬 Antibody of the Week: AbFlex® PLK1 antibody (rAb)
Meet our AbFlex® PLK1 antibody, part of our AbFlex recombinant antibody (rAb) collection [https://bit.ly/3JHsQFo]
_________
#AntibodyOfTheWeek #Epigenetics #ActiveMotif #AbFlex #PLK1 #RecombinantAntibody #Research #MolecularBiology
Meet our AbFlex® PLK1 antibody, part of our AbFlex recombinant antibody (rAb) collection [https://bit.ly/3JHsQFo]
_________
#AntibodyOfTheWeek #Epigenetics #ActiveMotif #AbFlex #PLK1 #RecombinantAntibody #Research #MolecularBiology
Jennifer A Miles, molecularrichard.bsky.social et al model the Aurora A-Bora-Plk1 ternary complex revealing how Bora bridges both kinases
#RefereedPreprint @reviewcommons.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#RefereedPreprint @reviewcommons.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
January 28, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Jennifer A Miles, molecularrichard.bsky.social et al model the Aurora A-Bora-Plk1 ternary complex revealing how Bora bridges both kinases
#RefereedPreprint @reviewcommons.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#RefereedPreprint @reviewcommons.org
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Arresting mitosis with visible light! Brilliant Victoria von Glasenapp from the Gotta and Winssinger labs @UNIGE develops a cool photo-caged PLK1 inhibitor, which we deploy in 3D spheroids to control mitosis with exquisite spatio-temporal precision. Check out the original article: lnkd.in/eTnzy5Nc
Spatio-temporal control of mitosis using light via a Plk1 inhibitor caged for activity and cellular permeability - Nature Communications
Light is a powerful tool for controlling biological processes. Here, the authors demonstrate its use to modulate inhibitor activity and diffusion, enabling precise control of cell division in multicel...
lnkd.in
February 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Arresting mitosis with visible light! Brilliant Victoria von Glasenapp from the Gotta and Winssinger labs @UNIGE develops a cool photo-caged PLK1 inhibitor, which we deploy in 3D spheroids to control mitosis with exquisite spatio-temporal precision. Check out the original article: lnkd.in/eTnzy5Nc
👋 Welcome to the Burkard Lab!
We study how errors in mitosis cause chromosomal instability and aneuploidy.
Our projects span mitotic regulators like PLK1 as well as how aneuploidy shapes cancer and cell fitness.
Follow us for research updates and lab life at Iowa!
We study how errors in mitosis cause chromosomal instability and aneuploidy.
Our projects span mitotic regulators like PLK1 as well as how aneuploidy shapes cancer and cell fitness.
Follow us for research updates and lab life at Iowa!
September 12, 2025 at 9:24 PM
👋 Welcome to the Burkard Lab!
We study how errors in mitosis cause chromosomal instability and aneuploidy.
Our projects span mitotic regulators like PLK1 as well as how aneuploidy shapes cancer and cell fitness.
Follow us for research updates and lab life at Iowa!
We study how errors in mitosis cause chromosomal instability and aneuploidy.
Our projects span mitotic regulators like PLK1 as well as how aneuploidy shapes cancer and cell fitness.
Follow us for research updates and lab life at Iowa!