Regulation of the Cell Cycle

Maturity from a single-celled zygote to fertile individual requires many cell divisions. For the duration of each division every dividing cell completes a well-organized set of events those collectively form the “cell cycle”. Cell cycle includes precise replication of the genome for the period of the DNA synthesis phase done in S phase & this is followed by the isolation of complete set of chromosomes to both the daughter cells.

The phases of somatic cell cycle known as The Gap phases connects the M phase to S phase in the subsequent cycle recognized as G1 , & G2 , A cell might provisionally or lastingly depart from the cell cycle & enter a quiescent or under arrest phase known as G0 or it may enter in G1 depending upon the ecological and developmental conditions. All through the growth variation of the somatic division cycle are used to fulfil needs of a cell which comprise embryonic cell cycles lacking G1 & G2 phases & many other cycles like meiotic cell cycles that allow the development of haploid gametes & endoreduplication cycles. The S phases in these cycles are not followed by mitosis. Cellular peripheral signals & cellular native information jointly conclude whether cells are capable to enter a division cycle further or not. On the whole external signals does influence this conclusion only in anticipation of commitment of a cell to go through the complete cycle at G1 called as “START” in yeast & “Restriction point” in mammals. Development all the way through the cell cycle is controlled inherently by the cell-cycle mechanism. The vital apparatus of this machinery are preserved in eukaryotes therefore conclusion are based on biochemistry of frog eggs & genetic studies done in yeast & also tissue culture of mammalian cells those have generated a considerable molecular perceptive of cell-cycle regulation.

The idea of cell-cycle regulation

Various Conclusions from studies in eukaryotes have collectively established that succession from first to last in the cell-division cycle is driven by commencement & inactivation of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), those that elicit the changeover to succeeding phases of the cycle. CDKs usually are minuscule serine/threonine protein kinases that facilitate binding with a cyclin subunit following their activation. There exist a lot of levels of regulation those intrude upon the CDKs & impose firm command of over cell-cycle headway. Regulation of this kind involves guarded expression & devastation of cyclins by activating & inhibitory phosphorylation & dephosphorylation of the CDKs, & idiom & demolition of inhibitory proteins that unite with CDK/cyclin complex.

Cyclins & Cell Cycle Regulation

Cells in quiescent phase (Go) enter the cell division cycle at G1 & in this phase the cell grows to get ready for replication now for further activity of the cell cycle a cell requires to pass through restriction checkpoint in G1 called as G1/S checkpoint. Some Cells may not pass this restriction point and they re-enter Go. Cell cycles include three additional phases namely M, G2 & S.

Main event During the S phase is synthesis of DNA & the centrosome. The M phase is the time during which the cell divides. G2 precedes S phase during which the the cell prepares for M phase.

Cyclin proteins are key players of the cell cycle as Cyclins bind subsequently activating members of the Cdk family that further mediated cell cycle progression.

Cyclins, D, E, A & B oscillate in the levels while progressing through the G1-S-G2-M during cell cycle.  

Progression through Cell cycle is further affected by the relative levels of proteins belonging to cyclin family.

Cyclin D & Their Role

Cyclin D1, D2 & D3 are the members of Cyclin D family. These three are closely linked proteins & are articulated in an overlapping outmoded style in proliferating cell types of all kinds. They cooperatively manage the succession of cells all the way through the cell cycle. D-cyclins are essential to cell division and are also alleged to be drawn in cancer.

Functions

Cyclin D modulate the commotion of Cdk6 & Cdk4 serine/threonine kinases.

Cyclin D are major group of G1 cyclin in superior organisms.

activity of Cyclin D is vital for the succession following S-phase & forms one of the essential component of the mammalian initiation leading to S-phase

G1 phase cyclins : Cyclin D regulate the entry of cells from Go into G1 are thus called G1 phase cyclins .

Cyclin E & Their Role

Molecular network of cell cycle is controlled a protein called Cyclin E. along with other huge number of cyclin proteins also involved in this venture.

The transition in the cell cycle from G1/S is also controlled by Cyclin E. Several malignancies have been found to be linked with over expression of cyclin E ensuing aberrant expression of other cell cycle regulators, high proliferation leading to chromosomal instability.

Functions

Transition from the G1 phase to the S phase is specifically regulated by Cyclin E. Also increase in the intensity of cyclin E accelerates the changeover of the cell in the course of the G1 phase.

Study related to Cyclin E has extrapolative value in breast cancer as increased levels of cyclin E in the tumor associate with a poor outcome, while low levels is linked with a good result.

Cyclin A & their Role

Binding to S phase Cdk2 required for the cellular progression through the S phase is mediated by Cyclin A.

Functions

Binding of Cyclin A to cdc2 & cdk2 gives rise to two distinctive cyclin A kinase actions out of which one appears in S phase the erstwhile in G2.

Cyclin A is vital control point of cell cycle in humans.

Cyclin B & Their function

It is also Known as mitotic cyclin

Functions

As known as mitotic cyclin their amount that binds to Cdk1 determines the activity of the cyclin B-Cdk complex that rise in the course of the cell cycle until mitosis although they fall abruptly after the completion of mitotic phase due to their degradation.

Complex of Cyclin B & CDK is known as mitosis promoting factor or maturation promoting factor (MPF).

Summarising the whole activity

Grouping of Cyclins into classes has been done on the basis of their regulatory phase of the cell cycle. Regulation of Cyclin D is done by external signals & growth factor via signaling pathway of Ras GTPase. Cyclin D enforces commitment of a cell to enter S-phase by coupling with Cdk6 & Cdk4 by forming cyclin-D-dependent

kinases. Cyclin D-Cdk4 also assist the expression of cyclin E. activation of DNA synthesis is done by Cyclin A that forms replication complex already assembled that hinders coming together of new replication complex. Reinitiating of the replication complex blocked by cyclin A is brought about by cyclin E. M phase/maturation promoting (MPF) is done by Cyclins B1 & B2 & along with their catalytic partner also known as M-phase cyclins they form components of the factor thus regulate processes that leading to alignment on the spindle , sister-chromatid pair & assembly of the mitotic spindle .

Cell – Cycle Inhibitor Genes

Two families of genes namely

• INK4a/ARF
• cip/kip family

Are known to mediate or programmed the death time for a cell as they avert the sequence of the cell cycle. For the anticipation of tumor formation expression of genes is influential such genes are known as tumor suppressors by the outline of signal transduction pathways involved in programmed cell death called apoptosis.

The cip/kip family consists of 3 genes namely

• p57
• p27
• p21

They halt cell cycle in G1 phase. Inactivation of cyclin-CDK complexes is brought about by binding with them.

P53 is triggered by radiation which in turn brings about the activation of p21. Transforming Growth Factor β is a growth inhibitor that activates P27.

P16INK4a & p14arf are included in the INK4a/ARF family. P16INK4a is known to bind to CDK4 that Stops the cell cycle in G1 phase whereas p14arf prevents degradation of p53.