Mechanisms underlying Plk1 polo-box domain-mediated biological processes and their physiological significance.
Mammalian polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) has been studied intensively as a key regulator of various cell cycle events that are critical for proper M-phase progression. The polobox domain (PBD) present in Plk1's C-terminal noncatalytic region has been shown to play a central role in targeting the N-terminal kinase domain of Plk1 to specific subcellular locations. Subsequent studies reveal that PBD binds to a phosphorylated motif generated by one of the two mechanisms-self-priming by Plk1 itself or non-selfpriming by a Pro-directed kinase, such as Cdc2. Here, we comparatively review the differences in the biochemical steps of these mechanisms and discuss their physiological significance. Considering the diverse functions of Plk1 during the cell cycle, a better understanding of how the catalytic activity of Plk1 functions in concert with its cisacting PBD and how this coordinated process is intricately regulated to promote Plk1 functions will be important for providing new insights into different mechanisms underlying various Plk1-mediated biological events that occur at the multiple stages of the cell cycle.
Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Kyung S
KS
Lee
Jung-Eun
JE
Park
Immune and Vascular Cell Network Research Center, Department of Life Science and GT5 Program, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Korea.
Young Hwi
YH
Kang
Tae-Sung
TS
Kim
Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute, Ochang 363-883, Korea.
Jeong K
JK
Bang
D000818:Animals; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis; D011485:Protein Binding; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D021381:Protein Transport; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097869:Polo-Like Kinase 1
D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000097869:Polo-Like Kinase 1