ZM-447439 is a selective inhibitor of aurora kinases ARK-1 (A) (IC50=1000nM, Ki=100nM), ARK-2 (B) (IC50= 50nM, Ki= 0.36nM) and ARK-3 (C), that can induce growth arrest, inhibit histone H3 phosphorylation and effectively activate apoptosis. The compound specifically interacts at the ATP-binding site and at the adjacent cleft, found only in aurora kinases. In the presence of Z-M447439, chromosome alignment, segregation, and cytokinesis during mitosis are unsuccessful. Studies show that ZM-447439 can override the spindle assembly checkpoint and accelerate meiosis I in mouse oocytes.