Clks 1, 2 and 4 prevent chromatin breakage by regulating the Aurora B-dependent abscission checkpoint.

When chromatin is trapped at the intercellular bridge, cells delay completion of cytokinesis (abscission) to prevent chromosome breakage. Here we show that inhibition of Cdc-like kinases (Clks) 1, 2 or 4 accelerates midbody resolution in normally segregating cells and correlates with premature abscission, chromatin breakage and generation of DNA damage in cytokinesis with trapped chromatin. Clk1, Clk2 and Clk4 localize to the midbody in an interdependent manner, associate with Aurora B kinase and are required for Aurora B-serine 331 (S331) phosphorylation and complete Aurora B activation in late cytokinesis. Phosphorylated Aurora B-S331 localizes to the midbody centre and is required for phosphorylation and optimal localization of the abscission protein Chmp4c. In addition, expression of phosphomimetic mutants Aurora B-S331E or Chmp4c-S210D delays midbody disassembly and prevents chromatin breakage in Clk-deficient cells. We propose that Clks 1, 2 and 4 impose the abscission checkpoint by phosphorylating Aurora B-S331 at the midbody.