title: Cdc25 and the importance of G2 control: insights from developmental biology.
abstract: While cell proliferation is an essential part of embryonic development, cells within an embryo cannot proliferate freely. Instead, they must balance proliferation and other cellular events such as differentiation and morphogenesis throughout embryonic growth. Although the G1 phase has been a major focus of study in cell cycle control, it is becoming increasingly clear that G2 regulation also plays an essential role during embryonic development. Here we discuss the role of Cdc25, a key regulator of mitotic entry, with a focus on several recent examples that show how the precise control of Cdc25 activity and the G2/M transition are critical for different aspects of embryogenesis. We finish by discussing a promising technology that allows easy visualization of embryonic and adult cells potentially regulated at mitotic entry, permitting the rapid identification of other instances where the exit from G2 plays an essential role in development and tissue homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry; University of Washington; Seattle, WA USA.
authors.forename: Cortney M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bouldin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry; University of Washington; Seattle, WA USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kimelman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036703:Blastula / Q000201:enzymology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000201:enzymology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000201:enzymology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000201:enzymology*; D059565:G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis; D009024:Morphogenesis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020687:cdc25 Phosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020687:cdc25 Phosphatases
keywords: Fucci; cdc25; differentiation; embryogenesis; morphogenesis