Mitotic CDKs control the metaphase-anaphase transition and trigger spindle elongation.
Mitotic cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) control entry into mitosis, but their role during mitotic progression is less well understood. Here we characterize the functions of CDK activity associated with the mitotic cyclins Clb1, Clb2, and Clb3. We show that Clb-CDKs are important for the activation of the ubiquitin ligase Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C)-Cdc20 that triggers the metaphase-anaphase transition. Furthermore, we define an essential role for Clb-CDK activity in anaphase spindle elongation. Thus, mitotic CDKs serve not only to initiate M phase, but are also needed continuously throughout mitosis to trigger key mitotic events such as APC/C activation and anaphase spindle elongation.
Rahal
Rami
R
Center for Cancer Research, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 USA.
Amon
Angelika
A
D000705:Anaphase; D002453:Cell Cycle; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D008677:Metaphase; D008938:Mitosis; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000502:physiology*
D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases