Review

Regulation of CDK4

Laurence Bockstaele , Katia Coulonval , Hugues Kooken , Sabine Paternot and Pierre P Roger

Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (IRIBHM), Faculté de Médecine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Campus Erasme, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium

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Cell Division 2006, 1:25doi:10.1186/1747-1028-1-25

Published:	8 November 2006

Abstract

Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4 is a master integrator that couples mitogenic and antimitogenic extracellular signals with the cell cycle. It is also crucial for many oncogenic transformation processes. In this overview, we address various molecular features of CDK4 activation that are critical but remain poorly known or debated, including the regulation of its association with D-type cyclins, its subcellular location, its activating Thr172-phosphorylation and the roles of Cip/Kip CDK "inhibitors" in these processes. We have recently identified the T-loop phosphorylation of CDK4, but not of CDK6, as a determining target for cell cycle control by extracellular factors, indicating that CDK4-activating kinase(s) might have to be reconsidered.