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Polo-like kinases, an introduction

Oncogene volume 24, pages 214–216 (2005)Cite this article

Polo and Polo-like kinases (Plks) are a family of conserved regulators of multiple events during cell division (Blagden and Glover, 2003; Dai and Cogswell, 2003; Barr et al., 2004). The founding member of this family, Polo, was originally identified in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and shown to be a serine–threonine kinase that is required for mitosis (Fenton and Glover, 1993). Mutations in the Polo gene result in abnormal mitotic and meiotic division (Glover et al., 1998). The kinase activity of Polo peaks cyclically at anaphase–telophase, and the protein also undergoes cell cycle-dependent changes in its intracellular distribution (Glover et al., 1996). CDC5 and Plo1 are structural as well as the functional homologues of Polo in the budding yeast (Sacchromyces cerevisiae) and the fission yeast (Schizosacchromyces pombe), respectively (Nigg, 1998). Both genes are essential and loss of their functions leads to mitotic arrest (Kitada et al., 1993; Ohkura et al., 1995).

In this review issue, 11 groups of active investigators have summarized advances in Polo and Plk fields ranging from yeast to human. In addition, in many review chapters, they have proposed new models and working hypotheses, which are thought provoking. Topics covered in this issue include functions of Plks in yeast (Lee et al.), Drosophila (Glover), Xenopus (Liu and Maller), and mammals (Seeburg et al.; Swallow et al.; Myer et al.). Since Plks possess the unique Polo box domain, the structure of which is critical for their function (Elia et al., 2003b; Liu et al., 2004), a specific chapter is devoted to the structure and function of Plks (Lowery et al., 2004). In more highly evolved animals, Plks have been shown to play an essential role in controlling cell proliferation, genomic stability, and oncogenesis. Therefore, additional topics are discussed including regulation of gene expression of Plks (Winkles and Alberts), Plks and cancer (Takai et al.), Plks and carcinogenesis (Eckerdt et al.), and Plks in cell cycle checkpoint regulation (Xie et al.). One unsolved issue is the specificity of individual vertebrate Plks during execution of many of their functions given that these molecules possess not only a similar structure but also overlapping subcellular localization (e.g. centrosomal localization). Although it is speculated that the specificity of these individual Plks may be partly mediated by their temporal expression, additional studies including a genetic approach are definitely required to elucidate the in vivo role of each vertebrate kinase during cell division and development.

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  1. Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Department of Medicine & Brandar Cancer Research Institute, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA

    Wei Dai

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Dai, W. Polo-like kinases, an introduction. Oncogene 24, 214–216 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1208270

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