title: Polo-like kinases: conservation and divergence in their functions and regulation.
abstract: Polo-like kinases (Plks) are potent regulators of M phase that are conserved from yeasts to humans. Their roles in mitotic entry, spindle pole functions and cytokinesis are broadly conserved despite physical and molecular differences in these processes in disparate organisms. Plks are characterized by their Polo-box domain, which mediates protein interactions. They are additionally controlled by phosphorylation, proteolysis and transcription, depending on the biological context. Plks are now recognized to link cell division to developmental processes and to function in differentiated cells. A comparison of Plk function and regulation between organisms offers insight into the rich variations of cell division.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK, Cell Cycle Genetics Research Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Genetics, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK. va228@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Archambault
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Glover
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D006801:Humans; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000097869:Polo-Like Kinase 1
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000097869:Polo-Like Kinase 1