CDK1 Human

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1, also known as CDK1 or Cell Division Cycle Protein 2 Homolog, is a highly conserved protein that functions as a serine/threonine protein kinase. It plays a crucial role in cell cycle regulation, particularly in the transition from the G2 phase to the M phase, which is essential for cell division .

CDK1 is a small protein with a molecular weight of approximately 34 kilodaltons. It shares about 63% amino-acid identity with its yeast homologs. The protein kinase motif is a significant part of its structure, which includes a cleft where ATP fits. Substrates of CDK1 bind near the mouth of this cleft, and CDK1 residues catalyze the covalent bonding of the γ-phosphate to the oxygen of the hydroxyl serine/threonine of the substrate .

CDK1 is a catalytic subunit of a protein kinase complex known as the M-Phase Promoting Factor. This complex is essential for the completion of START, the controlling event in the cell cycle required to initiate mitosis. CDK1, when bound to its cyclin partners, phosphorylates a variety of target substrates, leading to cell cycle progression .

CDK1 has been highly studied in model organisms such as the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In these organisms, it is encoded by the genes cdc28 and cdc2, respectively. The human homolog of CDK1 is capable of rescuing fission yeast carrying a cdc2 mutation, highlighting its evolutionary conservation .

Human recombinant CDK1 is widely used in research to study cell cycle regulation and its implications in various diseases, including cancer. The recombinant form allows for controlled experiments and detailed studies on its function and interactions with other proteins .