Serine/threonine-protein kinase component of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), a complex that acts as a key regulator of mitosis. The CPC complex has essential functions at the centromere in ensuring correct chromosome alignment and segregation and is required for chromatin-induced microtubule stabilization and spindle assembly. Also plays a role in meiosis and more particularly in spermatogenesis. Has redundant cellular functions with AURKB and can rescue an AURKB knockdown. Like AURKB, AURKC phosphorylates histone H3 at 'Ser-10' and 'Ser-28'. AURKC phosphorylates the CPC complex subunits BIRC5/survivin and INCENP leading to increased AURKC activity. Phosphorylates TACC1, another protein involved in cell division, at 'Ser-228'. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:15316025, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15499654, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15670791, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15938719, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21493633, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21531210, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27332895}. This is the function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000105146 (AURKC, aurora kinase C).