Cdks, cyclins and CKIs: roles beyond cell cycle regulation

• Published in: Development (Cambridge) Vol. 140; no. 15; pp. 3079 - 3093
• Main Authors: Lim, Shuhui, Kaldis, Philipp
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.08.2013
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Cell Cycle Checkpoints - genetics; Cell Cycle Checkpoints - physiology; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor Proteins - genetics; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor Proteins - physiology; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases - chemistry; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases - genetics; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases - physiology; Cyclins - genetics; Cyclins - physiology; DNA Repair; Epigenesis, Genetic; Humans; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Neurons - physiology; Proteolysis; Spermatogenesis; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic; CKI; DNA damage repair; Transcription; Spermatogenesis; Cyclin; Stem cell self-renewal; Cdk; Epigenetic regulation; Metabolism; Proteolytic degradation; Neuronal functions
• ISSN: 0950-1991; 1477-9129
• DOI: 10.1242/dev.091744

Cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are serine/threonine kinases and their catalytic activities are modulated by interactions with cyclins and Cdk inhibitors (CKIs). Close cooperation between this trio is necessary for ensuring orderly progression through the cell cycle. In addition to their well-established function in cell cycle control, it is becoming increasingly apparent that mammalian Cdks, cyclins and CKIs play indispensable roles in processes such as transcription, epigenetic regulation, metabolism, stem cell self-renewal, neuronal functions and spermatogenesis. Even more remarkably, they can accomplish some of these tasks individually, without the need for Cdk/cyclin complex formation or kinase activity. In this Review, we discuss the latest revelations about Cdks, cyclins and CKIs with the goal of showcasing their functional diversity beyond cell cycle regulation and their impact on development and disease in mammals.