Cyclin A/cdk2 has a role in progression through S phase, and a large pool is also activated in G 2 phase. Here we report that this G 2 phase pool regulates the timing of progression into mitosis. Knock down of cyclin A by siRNA or addition of a specific cdk2 small molecule inhibitor delayed entry into mitosis by delaying cells in G 2 phase. The G 2 phase-delayed cells contained elevated levels of inactive cyclin B/cdk1. However, increased microtubule nucleation at the centrosomes was observed, and the centrosomes stained for markers of cyclin B/cdk1 activity. Both microtubule nucleation at the centrosomes and the phosphoprotein markers were lost with short-term treatment of the cdk1/2 inhibitor roscovitine but not the Mek1/2 inhibitor U0126. Cyclin A/cdk2 localized at the centrosomes in late G 2 phase after separation of the centrosomes but before the start of prophase. Thus G 2 phase cyclin A/cdk2 controls the timing of entry into mitosis by controlling the subsequent activation of cyclin B/cdk1, but also has an unexpected role in coordinating the activation of cyclin B/cdk1 at the centrosome and in the nucleus.
Insertion into and release of the cytoplasmic domain of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe spindle pole body from a nuclear envelope fenestra during mitosis requires Brr6.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.