A Cdk7-Cdk4 T-Loop Phosphorylation Cascade Promotes G1 Progression

  • Miriam Merzel Schachter
  • , Karl A. Merrick
  • , Stéphane Larochelle
  • , Alexander Hirschi
  • , Chao Zhang
  • , Kevan M. Shokat
  • , Seth M. Rubin
  • , Robert P. Fisher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

145 Scopus citations

Abstract

Eukaryotic cell division is controlled by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), which require phosphorylation by a CDK-activating kinase (CAK) for full activity. Chemical genetics uncovered requirements for the metazoan CAK Cdk7 in determining cyclin specificity and activation order of Cdk2 and Cdk1 during S and G2 phases. It was unknown if Cdk7 also activates Cdk4 and Cdk6 to promote passage of the restriction (R) point, when continued cell-cycle progression becomes mitogen independent, or if CDK-activating phosphorylation regulates G1 progression. Here we show that Cdk7 is a Cdk4- and Cdk6-activating kinase in human cells, required tomaintain activity, not just to establish the active state, as is the case for Cdk1 and Cdk2. Activating phosphorylation of Cdk7 rises concurrently with that of Cdk4 as cells exit quiescence and acceleratesCdk4 activation invitro. Therefore, mitogen signaling drives a CDK-activation cascade during G1 progression, and CAK might be rate-limiting for R point passage.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)250-260
Number of pages11
JournalMolecular Cell
Volume50
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 25 Apr 2013

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