AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The central machines that drive cell cycle progression are the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). These are serine/threonine protein kinases that phosphorylate key substrates to promote DNA synthesis and mitotic progression.

Detailed explanation-2: -Two groups of proteins, called cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks), are responsible for the progress of the cell through the various checkpoints. The levels of the four cyclin proteins fluctuate throughout the cell cycle in a predictable pattern (Figure 2).

Detailed explanation-3: -Cell cycle progression is regulated in part by the sequential activity of various cyclins. The cyclins are regulatory subunits that bind, activate and provide substrate specificity for their catalytic partner serine-threonine kinases, collectively called cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) (reviewed in refs.

Detailed explanation-4: -The formation of cyclin/CDKs controls the cell-cycle progression via phosphorylation of the target genes, such as tumor suppressor protein retinoblastoma (Rb). The activation of cyclins/CDKs is induced by mitogenic signals and inhibited by the activation of cell-cycle checkpoints in response to DNA damage [8].

Detailed explanation-5: -Cell cycle progression is dependent on the expression and activation of specific enzymes, termed cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdk’s), which form holoenzymes with their regulatory subunits, the cyclins.