Transforming growth factor , (TGF-,B) is a potent inhibitor of epithelial cell growth. Cyclins E and A in association with Cdk2 have been shown to play a role in the GI-to-S phase transition in mammalian cells. We have studied the effects of TGF-p-mediated growth arrest on GJ/S cyclins E and A. Inhibition of cyclin A-associated kinase by TGF-j is primarily due to a decrease in cyclin A mRNA and protein. By contrast, while TGF-0 inhibits accumulation of cyclin E mRNA, the reduction in cyclin E protein is minimal. Instead, we find that the activation of cyclin E-associated kinase that normally accompanies the Gl-to-S phase transition is inhibited. A novel inhibitor of cyclin-Cdk complexes was detected in TGF-j8-treated cell lysates. Inhibition is mediated by a heat-stable protein that targets both Cdk2 and Cdc2 kinases. In Go-arrested cells, a similar inhibitor of Cdk2 kinase was detected. These data suggest the existence of an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases induced under different conditions to mediate antiproliferative responses.Control of the eukaryotic cell cycle occurs at key points in G, and at the G2-to-M phase transition (41,80,85,121,122). These transitions are governed by multimeric protein complexes with serine/threonine kinase activity, whose catalytic subunits, proteins of 33 to 34 kDa, are regulated by phosphorylation and by periodic association with positive effector proteins, known as cyclins. Current understanding of cell cycle control derives largely from studies of yeast cells. The Cdc28 kinase in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its homolog in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomycespombe, Cdc2, appear to regulate both the Gl-to-S and G2-to-M phase transitions (5,81,88,93,95). In S. cerevisiae, association of p34Cdc28 with Gl cyclins, or Clns, is necessary for entry to S phase (12,38,77,98,115), while association with the mitotic or B-type cyclins, the Clbs, promotes entry into mitosis (30, 108).The first human homolog of p34Cdc2/Cdc28 to be identified, Cdc2Hs, could complement p34 deficiency in both S. cerevisiae and S. pombe (16, 61). However, its action appears to be restricted to the G2-to-M phase transition in humans (15,89,97,110).A number of Cdc2-related or cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) have subsequently been identified (23,51,61,74,78,86,102,112). These kinases combine with different cyclins to govern different cell cycle transitions. One of these, Cdk2, appears to regulate Gl-and S-phase functions in human cells (62,102,113). The action of Cdk2 in complex with cyclin A is essential for progression through S phase and may play a role in the regulation of DNA synthesis (25,32,33,83,90,123).Several candidate G, cyclins, designated C, D, and E, were identified when human and Drosophila cDNA libraries were screened for sequences that could complement deletion of the S. cerevisiae Cln genes (51,63,65,117). A cyclin D cDNA was