Abstract

Cell-cycle transitions in higher eukaryotes are regulated by different cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and their activating cyclin subunits. Based on pioneering findings that a dominant-negative mutation of CDK1 blocks the cell cycle at G2–M phase, whereas dominant-negative CDK2 inhibits the transition into S phase, a model of cell-cycle control has emerged in which each transition is regulated by a specific subset of CDKs and cyclins. Recent work with gene-targeted mice has led to a revision of this model. We discuss cell-cycle control in light of overlapping and essential functions of the different CDKs and cyclins.

Author affiliations

1. Helfrid Hochegger is at the Genome Damage and Stability Centre, University of Sussex, Falmer Brighton, BN1 9RQ, UK.
2. Shunichi Takeda is at the Department of Radiation Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
3. Tim Hunt is at Clare Hall Laboratories Cancer Research UK, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, EN6 3LD, UK.

Correspondence to: Tim Hunt³ Email: tim.hunt@cancer.org.uk

Published online 24 September 2008

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