Redundant ubiquitin ligase activities regulate wee1 degradation and mitotic entry

Cell Cycle. 2007 Nov 15;6(22):2795-9. doi: 10.4161/cc.6.22.4919. Epub 2007 Aug 20.

Abstract

The irreversible nature of mitotic entry is due to the activation of mitosis specific kinases such as cdk1/cyclin B. Cdk1/cyclin B induces activation of mitosis by promoting phosphatases while suppressing inhibitory factors such as the tyrosine kinase wee1. Since wee1 keeps cdk1/cyclin B inactive during the S and G2 phases, its activity must be down-regulated for mitotic progression to occur. One mechanism of suppressing wee1 activity is ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. Cdk1/cyclin B1 phosphorylates wee1, targeting it for recognition by ubiquitin ligases and subsequent proteasomal degradation. One of the ubiquitin ligases promoting wee1 destruction during mitosis is the SCF(beta-trcp) complex. We demonstrate that this complex, and a second SCF complex containing the F-box protein Tome-1, regulate wee1 degradation during the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. Therefore, redundant ubiquitin ligase activities promote efficient mitotic entry of eukaryotic cells.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mitosis / physiology*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / methods
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes / physiology*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • WEE1 protein, human