Roles and regulation of serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatases in the cell cycle.
As cell cycle research enters its fourth decade, multiple protein kinases are firmly established as key regulators of the cell cycle, and some of them have emerged as promising drug targets. This review will discuss the serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatases that oppose the actions of protein kinases. Typically, a phosphatase may stimulate one cell cycle transition, and inhibit another; alternatively, two different phosphatase holoenzymes may have opposing effects on the same cell cycle transition. Thus, both activation and inhibition of these enzymes could result in cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. Specific findings, the challenges and approaches to exploit this potential will be discussed.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
Norbert
N
Berndt
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D013379:Substrate Specificity
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases