Regulation of CDK/cyclin complexes during the cell cycle

Abstract

The eukaryotic cell cycle is regulated by the temporal activation of different cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)/cyclin complexes. Whilst the level of the catalytic subunit of the complex, the CDK, remains relatively constant through the cycle, the level of the cyclin subunit generally oscillates. Cyclins are synthesized, bind and activate the CDK and are then destroyed. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the regulation of the cell cycle by CDK/cyclin complexes with special emphasis on new developments in cyclin biosynthesis and destruction, the structural analysis of the CDK/cyclin complexes and the role of a set of inhibitors of CDK/cyclin complexes that are important for the coordination of the different stages of the cell cycle.