Cell cycle progression is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks). The activity of cdks is tightly controlled by several mechanisms, including binding of subunits to cdks (cyclins and inhibitors), and phosphorylation events. This review focuses on the activating phosphorylation of cdks by an enzyme termed cdk-activating kinase (CAK). Two classes of CAKs have been identified: monomeric Cak1p f

Mitochondrial creatine kinase (Mi-CK) consists of octameric and dimeric molecules that are interconvertible. In the present study, the kinetic properties of purified chicken heart Mi-CK (Mi(b)-CK) dimers and octamers were investigated separately under highly controlled conditions. Gel-permeation chromatography was performed before and after kinetic measurements in order to clearly define the propo

The effect that extreme natural events have on biological diversity is relatively poorly known. We used a before–after control-impact (BACI) design to analyze changes in bird abundances and communities following Hurricane Gudrun, which struck southern Sweden in January 2005, felling 75 million m3 of forest and causing damage to 5% of forested areas (half a million hectares) in a few hours. We used

MLL rearrangements are translocation mutations that cause both acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These translocations can occur as sole clonal driver mutations in infant leukemias, suggesting that fetal or neonatal hematopoietic progenitors may be exquisitely sensitive to transformation by MLL fusion proteins. To test this possibility, we used transgenic mice to induce

This work presents new constraints on the existence and the binding energy of a possible Λ–Λ bound state, the H-dibaryon, derived from Λ–Λ femtoscopic measurements by the ALICE collaboration. The results are obtained from a new measurement using the femtoscopy technique in (Figure presented.) collisions at s=13 TeV and p–Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV, combined with previously published results fro

Macrophages contribute in the initiation and progression of insulitis during type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the mechanisms governing their recruitment into the islets as well as the manner of retention and activation are incompletely understood. Here, we investigated a role for macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and its transmembrane receptor, CD74, in the progression of T1D. Our data i

In this issue of Blood, Matsumoto et al report that T cell-specific deletion of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57Kip2(p57) in mice leads to a block in T-cell development as a result of hyperactivation of the E2F-p53 pathway and demonstrate that the loss of p57 accelerates lymphomagenesis in the absence of p53.

Germ-line mutations in BRCA2 have been linked to early-onset familial breast cancer. BRCA2 is known to play a key role in repairing double-strand breaks. Here,we describe the involvement of BRCA2 in O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (AGT)-mediated repair of O6-methylguanine adducts. We show that BRCA2 physically associates and undergoes repair-mediated degradation with AGT. In contrast, BRCA2 w

Cdk1 was proposed to compensate for the loss of Cdk2. Here we present evidence that this is possible due to premature translocation of Cdk1 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in the absence of Cdk2. We also investigated the consequence of loss of Cdk2 on the maintenance of the G1/S DNA damage checkpoint. Cdk2-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts in vitro as well as regenerating liver cells after partial

Centrosomes organize the microtubule cytoskeleton for both interphase and mitotic functions. They are implicated in cell-cycle progression but the mechanism is unknown. Here, we show that depletion of 14 out of 15 centrosome proteins arrests human diploid cells in G1 with reduced Cdk2-cyclin A activity and that expression of a centrosome-disrupting dominant-negative construct gives similar results

Cisplatin is one of the most effective chemotherapeutics, but its usefulness is limited by its toxicity to normal tissues, including cells of the kidney proximal tubule. The purpose of these studies was to determine the mechanism of cisplatin cytotoxicity. It was shown in vivo that cisplatin administration induces upregulation of the gene for the p21 cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor in kidn

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 is known as a negative regulator of cell-cycle progression and as a tumour suppressor. Cdk2 is the main target of p27 (refs 2, 3) and therefore we hypothesized that loss of Cdk2 activity should modify the p27-/- mouse phenotype. Here, we show that although p27-/- Cdk2-/- mice developed ovary tumours and tumours in the anterior lobe of the pituitary, we

It has long been believed that Cdk2 and its activator cyclin E play essential roles in the progression of the mitotic cell cycle. However, recent studies using knockout mouse models revealed that neither Cdk2 nor cyclin E are essential in vivo. The purpose of this Perspective is to compare both Cdk2 and cyclin E knockout mice models and to discuss potential mechanisms driving the cell cycle in the

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) that control cell cycle progression are regulated in many ways, including activating phosphorylation of a conserved threonine residue. This essential phosphorylation is carried out by the CDK-activating kinase (CAK). Here we examine the effects of replacing this threonine residue in human CDK2 by serine. We found that cyclin A bound equally well to wild-type CDK2 (C

Ge nanoparticles embedded in thin films have attracted a lot of attention due to their promising optical and electronic properties that can be tuned by varying the particle size and choice of matrix material. In this study, Ge nanoparticle formation was investigated for Al-Ge-N based thin films by simultaneous measurements of HAXPES and grazing incidence XRD during in situ annealing in vacuum cond

The valence bands of [EMIM][TFSI], [DEME][TFSI] and [PYR1,4][TFSI] gas-phase ion pairs have been investigated using ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). The photoelectron spectra are interpreted by using several density functional and ab initio calculation methods. Although the experimental vapor phase spectra are similar, the different calculation methods make different predictions about

The world faces major climate challenges and extensive efforts need to be taken to combat this issue. Replacing fossil-derived fuels and chemicals with renewables are one important step on the way. Hydrogen has a great potential as a renewable energy carrier for the transport sector and as a green chemical for the industry. Today, the production of hydrogen stems primarily from fossil resources. A

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common cause of pain, weakness, sensory loss, and activity limitations. Currently, the most common initial treatment is use of a rigid splint immobilizing the wrist, usually during night-Time, for several weeks. Evidence regarding the efficacy and effect durability of wrist splinting is weak. The treatment is associated with costs and may cause discomf