Distinct activation pathways confer cyclin-binding specificity on Cdk1 and Cdk2 in human cells.
In metazoans, different cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) bind preferred cyclin partners to coordinate cell division. Here, we investigate these preferences in human cells and show that cyclin A assembles with Cdk1 only after complex formation with Cdk2 reaches a plateau during late S and G2 phases. To understand the basis for Cdk2's competitive advantage, despite Cdk1's greater abundance, we dissect their activation pathways by chemical genetics. Cdk1 and Cdk2 are activated by kinetically distinct mechanisms, even though they share the same CDK-activating kinase (CAK), Cdk7. We recapitulate cyclin A's selectivity for Cdk2 in extracts and override it with a yeast CAK that phosphorylates monomeric Cdk1, redirecting Cdk1 into a pathway normally restricted to Cdk2. Conversely, upon Cdk7 inhibition in vivo, cyclin B, which normally binds Cdk1 nearly exclusively, is diverted to Cdk2. Therefore, differential ordering of common activation steps promotes CDK-cyclin specificity, with Cdk7 acting catalytically to enforce fidelity.
Merrick
Karl A
KA
Molecular Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Larochelle
Stéphane
S
Zhang
Chao
C
Allen
Jasmina J
JJ
Shokat
Kevan M
KM
Fisher
Robert P
RP
D000818:Animals; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002457:Cell Extracts; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010769:Phosphothreonine / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D000095043:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-Activating Kinase
D002457:Cell Extracts; D016213:Cyclins; D010710:Phosphates; D010769:Phosphothreonine; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; C495894:CDK2 protein, human; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D000095043:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-Activating Kinase