Replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is characterized by a tight virus-host cell interaction. Cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) are functionally integrated into viral gene expression and protein modification. The HCMV-encoded protein kinase pUL97 acts as a CDK ortholog showing structural and functional similarities. Recently, we reported an interaction between pUL97 kinase with a s...

Proper eukaryotic DNA replication requires temporal separation of helicase loading from helicase activation and replisome assembly. Using an in vitro assay for eukaryotic origin-dependent replication initiation, we investigated the control of these events. After helicase loading, we found that the Dbf4-dependent Cdc7 kinase (DDK) but not S phase cyclin-dependent kinase (S-CDK) is required for t...

A remarkably concise, chromatography-free route to the parent compound of the paullone family of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors is reported. A similar strategy allowed the synthesis of the hitherto missing 9-azapaullone and its protonated, N-oxidised and N-alkylated derivatives. Screening studies identified an active and strongly selective inhibitor of CDK9/cyclin T.

Many replication proteins assemble on the pre-RC-formed replication origins and constitute the pre-initiation complex (pre-IC). This complex formation facilitates the conversion of Mcm2-7 in the pre-RC to an active DNA helicase, the Cdc45-Mcm-GINS (CMG) complex. Two protein kinases, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) and Dbf4-dependent kinase (DDK), work to complete the formation of the pre-IC. Each...

The cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor p27 is a central mediator in the imposition and maintenance of quiescence through the sequestration of G1-specific cyclin-cdk complexes. Previous studies have implicated the c-Jun co-activator protein Jab1 as a regulator of intracellular p27 levels. Jab1 has been reported to interact with p27 and cause its translocation to the cytoplasm as a prelude t...

Hepatocytes are capable of marked changes in proliferation in response to various physiological and pathophysiological stimuli. Although the changes in adult hepatocyte growth regulation that accompany reduction of liver mass, liver injury, and liver carcinogenesis have come under intense scrutiny, the regulation of hepatocyte growth during the latter stages of development is largely uncharacte...

Reversible phosphorylation of nuclear proteins is required for both DNA replication and entry into mitosis. Consequently, most cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)/cyclin complexes are localized to the nucleus when active. Although our understanding of nuclear transport processes has been greatly enhanced by the recent identification of nuclear targeting sequences and soluble nuclear import factors wi...

Cyclins control the activities of cyclin-dependent protein kinases (cdks) and hence play a key role in cell cycle regulation. While B-type cyclins associate with p34cdc2 to trigger entry into mitosis, progression through S phase requires cyclin A, presumably in association with p33cdk2. Vertebrate A- and B-type cyclins display strikingly distinct subcellular localizations, but the mechanisms un...

Objective: The objective of this research was the virtual design nine novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives and evaluating their antiproliferative activity as potential cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK-2) inhibitors, which is a major component in cell cycle proliferation. Methods: CDK-2 structure, PDB ID, 2R3J, co-crystallized with ligand SCJ from protein data bank chosen to be docked series 5-(thio...

The cellular abundance of the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p27 is regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Activation of p27 degradation is seen in proliferating cells and in many types of aggressive human carcinomas. p27 can be phosphorylated on threonine 187 by Cdks, and cyclin E/Cdk2 overexpression can stimulate the degradation of wild-type p27, but not of a threonine 187-to-...