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Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 9, 910–916 (1 November 2008) | doi:10.1038/nrm2510

Cyclin-dependent kinases and cell-cycle transitions: does one fit all?

Helfrid Hochegger , Shunichi Takeda & Tim Hunt

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.