Figure 6.

Schematic model displays the mitotic regulation of SOX2 by AURKA is critical for cancer stem-cell like cell maintenance. Both solid tumor and cultured cells were heterogeneous and the number of stem-cell like cells is limited. It is proposed here that the ratio of stem-cell like cells is regulated through phosphorylation on SOX2 mediated by AURKA. AURKA phosphorylates SOX2 and induce the M phase specific modification of SOX2. Mitotic phosphorylation of SOX2 by AURKA restricts the ratio of stem-cell like cells. When disrupt the mitotic modification of SOX2, either by mutating SOX2 or inactivating AURKA, the ratio of stem-cell like cells increased.