G1/S regulatory mechanisms from yeast to man

Abstract

Cyclin-dependent kinases play a key role in promoting and regulating the transition from G1 to S phase in all eukaryotic organisms. The kinase activities involved are distinguished from those participating in other cell cycle phase transitions in that they are driven by a class of specialised G1-specific cyclins. Although the G1 regulatory components have diverged structurally in the course of evolution, the regulatory mechanisms and principles remain highly conserved from yeast to vertebrates. An important issue that remains is that of identifying the principal targets phosphorylated by G1 cyclin-dependent kinases.