Cyclin-A2 is a protein that activates cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), specifically CDK2 and CDK1, to promote cell cycle progression. The human recombinant form of Cyclin-A2 is often expressed in systems such as Escherichia coli or baculovirus-insect cells to study its function and for use in various research applications .
Cyclin-A2 is essential for the initiation and progression of DNA replication during the S phase. It also plays a critical role in the G2/M transition, ensuring that cells properly enter mitosis. Cyclin-A2 achieves this by binding to and activating CDK2 during the S phase and CDK1 during the G2/M transition .
The recombinant expression of human Cyclin-A2 has been a challenge due to issues related to solubility, yield, and purity. However, optimized conditions have been developed to produce sufficient quantities of soluble and active Cyclin-A2. This involves the use of molecular chaperones and specific expression systems to ensure proper folding and functionality of the protein .
Recombinant Cyclin-A2 is used in various research applications, including: