AurA phosphorylates H3 and NPM in vitro. (A) 20 pmol of AurA was incubated for 10 min at 37°C with 10 pmol of H3. H3 phosphorylation (*) was assessed by autoradiography (top), and the presence of AurA and H3 proteins was verified by Coomassie blue staining (bottom). (B) 0.5 pmol of AurA was incubated for 10 min at 37°C with 10 pmol of NPM. NPM phosphorylation was assessed by autoradiography (top), and the presence of NPM protein was assessed by Coomassie blue staining (middle). Autophosphorylation of AurA on T288 was verified by Western blotting (bottom). (C) 0.5 pmol of AurA was incubated with 10 pmol of H3 and the indicated amount of NPM. NPM, AurA, and H3 phosphorylation were assessed by autoradiography (top). NPM, H3, AurA, and AurA autophosphorylations on T288 (pT288) were evaluated by Western blotting or Coomassie blue staining. Molecular mass is indicated in kilodaltons.