title: The functions of the cdk-cyclin kinase inhibitor p21WAF1.
abstract: p21WAF1 plays a critical role in regulating cell growth and the cell response to DNA damage. The primary targets of p21WAF1 (hereafter referred to as p21) are the cdk-cyclins which regulate the progression of eukaryotic cells through the cell cycle, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), an accessory protein of DNA polymerase delta. p21 forms complexes with a class of cdk-cyclins to inhibit their kinase activity and with PCNA to inhibit DNA synthesis. These distinct properties map to the N-terminal and the C-terminal regions of p21, respectively. Cell cycle arrest in G-1 (G-1 checkpoint) following DNA damage is mediated by p53 and is deficient in p21 null cells. p53 thus upregulates p21 expression in response to DNA damage, which in turn inhibits cdk2-associated kinase activity. Retinoblastoma protein is regulated by cdk-cyclin kinases, and acts as a downstream target of p21 in DNA damage-induced G-1 arrest. Furthermore, accumulating evidence indicates that p21 may play a role in maintaining G-2 arrest after DNA damage. Transcriptional control of p21 by factors other than p53 is critical for growth arrest and for cell differentiation in many instances.
authors.affiliation: Institut de biologie structurale J.P. Ebel, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boulaire
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fotedar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fotedar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D016213:Cyclins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases