Kinetic and structural studies of specific protein-protein interactions in substrate catalysis by Cdc25B phosphatase

Using a combination of steady-state and single-turnover kinetics, we probe substrate association, dissociation, and chemistry for the reaction of Cdc25B phosphatase with its Cdk2-pTpY/CycA protein substrate. The rate constant for substrate association for the wild-type enzyme is 1.3 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). The rate constant for dissociation is slow compared to the rate constant for phosphate transfer to form the phospho-enzyme intermediate (k2 = 1.1 s(-1)), making Cdk2-pTpY/CycA a sticky substrate. Compared to the wild type, all hotspot mutants of residues at the remote docking site that specifically affect catalysis with the protein substrate (Arg488, Arg492, and Tyr497 on Cdc25B and Asp206 on Cdk2) have greatly slowed rate constants of association (70- to 4500-fold), and some mutants have decreased k2 values compared to that of the wild type. Most dramatically, R492L, despite showing no significant changes in a crystal structure at 2.0 A resolution, has an approximately 100-fold decrease in k2 compared to that of wild-type Cdc25B. The active site C473S mutant binds tightly to and dissociates slowly from Cdk2-pTpY/CycA (Kd = 10 nM, k(off) = 0.01 s(-1)). In contrast, the C473D mutant, despite showing only localized perturbations in the active site at 1.6 A resolution, has a much weaker affinity and dissociates rapidly (Kd of 2 microM, k(off) > 2 s(-1)) from the protein substrate. Overall, we demonstrate that the association of Cdc25B with its Cdk2-pTpY/CycA substrate is governed to a significant extent by the interactions of the remote hotspot residues, whereas dissociation is governed by interactions at the active site.     

Specificity of natural and artificial substrates for human Cdc25A

Cdc25A is a dual-specific protein phosphatase involved in the regulation of the kinase activity of Cdk-cyclin complexes in the eukaryotic cell cycle. To understand the mechanism of this important regulator, we have generated highly purified biochemical reagents to determine the kinetic constants for human Cdc25A with respect to a set of peptidic, artificial, and natural substrates. Cdc25A and its catalytic domain (dN25A) demonstrate very similar kinetics toward the artificial substrates p-nitrophenyl phosphate (k(cat)/K(m) = 15-25 M(-1) s(-1)) and 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphate (k(cat)/K(m) = 1.1-1.3 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)). Phospho-peptide substrates exhibit extremely low second-order rate constants and a flat specificity profile toward Cdc25A and dN25A (k(cat)/K(m) = 1 to 10 M(-1) s(-1)). In contrast to peptidic substrates, Cdc25A and dN25A are highly active phosphatases toward the natural substrate, T14- and Y15-bis-phosphorylated Cdk2/CycA complex (Cdk2-pTpY/CycA) with k(cat)/K(m) values of 1.0-1.1 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). In the context of the Cdk2-pTpY/CycA complex, phospho-threonine is preferred over phospho-tyrosine by more than 10-fold. The highly homologous catalytic domain of Cdc25c is essentially inactive toward Cdk2-pTpY/CycA. Taken together these data indicate that a significant degree of the specificity of Cdc25 toward its Cdk substrate resides within the catalytic domain itself and yet is in a region(s) that is outside the phosphate binding site of the enzyme.     

The energetic network of hotspot residues between Cdc25B phosphatase and its protein substrate

We have investigated the functional network of hotspot residues at the remote docking site of two cell cycle regulators, namely Cdc25B phosphatase and its native protein substrate Cdk2-pTpY/CycA. Specifically, we have studied the roles of energetically important residues (Arg488, Arg492, Tyr497 on Cdc25B and Asp206 and Asp210 on Cdk2-pTpY/CycA) by generating a diverse set of substitutions and performing double and triple mutant cycle analyses. This transient protein-protein interaction is particularly well-suited for this mutagenic approach because various control experiments ensure that the effect of each mutation is limited to the interaction of interest. We find binary coupling energies for ion pairs and hydrogen bonds ranging from 0.7 kcal/mol to 3.9 kcal/mol and ternary coupling energies of 1.9 kcal/mol and 2.8 kcal/mol. Overall our biochemical analyses are in good agreement with the docked structure of the complex and suggest the following roles for the individual hotspot residues on Cdc25B. The most important contributor, Arg492, forms a specific and tight bidentate interaction with Asp206 and a weaker interaction with Asp210 that cannot be replaced by a Lys. Although Tyr497 does not directly participate in this ionic network, it is important for buttressing Arg492 using both its hydrophobic (aromatic ring) and hydrophilic characteristics (hydrogen bonding). Arg488 participates less specifically in the electrostatic network with Asp206 and Asp210 of the protein substrate as it can partially be replaced by Lys. Our data provide insight how a cluster of residues in a docking site remote from the site of the chemical reaction can bring about efficient and specific substrate recognition.     

Temperature dependence of binding and catalysis for the Cdc25B phosphatase

Using a combination of steady-state and single-turnover kinetics, we probe the temperature dependence of substrate association and chemistry for the reaction of Cdc25B phosphatase with its Cdk2-pTpY/CycA protein substrate. The transition state for substrate association is dominated by an enthalpic barrier (DeltaH(++) of 13 kcal/mol) and has a favorable entropic contribution of 4 kcal/mol at 298 K. Phosphate transfer from Cdk2-pTpY/CycA to enzyme (DeltaH(++) of 12 kcal/mol) is enthalpically more favorable than for the small molecule substrate p-nitrophenyl phosphate (DeltaH(++) of 18 kcal/mol), yet entropically less favorable (TDeltaS(++) of 2 vs. -6 kcal/mol at 298 K, respectively). By measuring the temperature dependence of binding and catalysis for several hotspot mutants involved in binding of protein substrate, we determine the enthalpy-entropy compensations for changes in rates of association and phosphate transfer compared to the wild type system. We conclude that the transition state for enzyme-substrate association involves tight and specific contacts at the remote docking site and that phospho-transfer from Cdk2-pTpY/CycA to the pre-organized active site of the enzyme is accompanied by unfavorable entropic rearrangements that promote rapid product dissociation.     

Catalytic mechanism of Cdc25

Cdc25 is a dual-specificity phosphatase that catalyzes the activation of the cyclin-dependent kinases, thus causing initiation and progression of successive phases of the cell cycle. Although it is not significantly homologous in sequence or structure to other dual-specificity phosphatases, Cdc25 belongs to the class of well-studied cysteine phosphatases as it contains their active site signature motif. Like other dual-specificity phosphatases, Cdc25 contains an active site cysteine whose pK(a) of 5.9 can be measured in pH-dependent kinetics using both small molecule and protein substrates such as Cdk2-pTpY/CycA. We have previously shown that the catalytic acid expected in phosphatases of this family and apparent in kinetics with the natural protein substrate does not appear to lie within the known structure of Cdc25 [Chen, W., et al. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 10781]. Here we provide experimental evidence for a novel mechanism wherein Cdc25 uses as its substrate a monoprotonated phosphate in contrast to the more typical bisanionic phosphate. Our pH-dependent studies, including one-turnover kinetics, solvent kinetic isotope effects, equilibrium perturbation, substrate depletion, and viscosity measurements, show that the monoprotonated phosphate of the protein substrate Cdk2-pTpY/CycA provides the critical proton to the leaving group. Additionally, we provide evidence that Glu474 on the Cdc25 enzyme serves an important role as a base in the transfer of the proton from the phosphate to the leaving group. Because of its greater intrinsic reactivity, the use of a monoprotonated phosphate as a phosphatase substrate is a chemically attractive solution and suggests the possibility of designing inhibitors specific for the Cdc25 dual-specificity phosphatase, an important anticancer target.     

Dual-specific Cdc25B phosphatase: in search of the catalytic acid

Cdc25 is a dual-specificity phosphatase that catalyzes the activation of the cyclin-dependent kinases, thus causing initiation and progression of successive phases of the cell cycle. Although it is not significantly structurally homologous to other well-characterized members, Cdc25 belongs to the class of well-studied cysteine phosphatases as it contains their active site signature motif. However, the catalytic acid needed for protonation of the leaving group has yet to be identified. To elucidate the role and identity of this key catalytic residue, we have performed a detailed pH-dependent kinetic analysis of Cdc25B. The pK(a) of the catalytic cysteine was found to be 5.6-6.3 in steady state and one-turnover burst experiments using the small molecule substrates p-nitrophenyl phosphate and 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphate. Interestingly, Cdc25B does not exhibit the typical bell-shaped pH-rate profile with small molecule substrates seen in other cysteine phosphatases and indicative of the catalytic acid because it lacks pH dependence between 6.5 and 9. Reactions of Cdc25B with the natural substrate Cdk2-pTpY/CycA, however, did yield a bell-shaped pH-rate profile with a pK(a) of 6.1 for the catalytic acid residue. Recent structural studies of Cdc25 have suggested that Glu474 [Fauman, E. B., et al. (1998) Cell 93, 617-625] or Glu478 [Reynolds, R. A., et al. (1999) J. Mol. Biol. 293, 559-568] could function as the catalytic acid in Cdc25B. Using site-directed mutagenesis and truncation experiments, however, we found that neither of these residues, nor the unstructured C-terminus, is responsible for the observed pH dependence. These results indicate that the catalytic acid does not appear to lie within the known structure of Cdc25B and may lie on its protein substrate.     

Experimental validation of the docking orientation of Cdc25 with its Cdk2-CycA protein substrate

Cdc25 phosphatases are key activators of the eukaryotic cell cycle and compelling anticancer targets because their overexpression has been associated with numerous cancers. However, drug discovery targeting these phosphatases has been hampered by the lack of structural information about how Cdc25s interact with their native protein substrates, the cyclin-dependent kinases. Herein, we predict a docked orientation for Cdc25B with its Cdk2-pTpY-CycA protein substrate by a rigid-body docking method and refine the docked models with full-scale molecular dynamics simulations and minimization. We validate the stable ensemble structure experimentally by a variety of in vitro and in vivo techniques. Specifically, we compare our model with a crystal structure of the substrate-trapping mutant of Cdc25B. We identify and validate in vivo a novel hot-spot residue on Cdc25B (Arg492) that plays a central role in protein substrate recognition. We identify a hot-spot residue on the substrate Cdk2 (Asp206) and confirm its interaction with hot-spot residues on Cdc25 using hot-spot swapping and double mutant cycles to derive interaction energies. Our experimentally validated model is consistent with previous studies of Cdk2 and its interaction partners and initiates the opportunity for drug discovery of inhibitors that target the remote binding sites of this protein-protein interaction.     

The N-terminal helix of Xenopus cyclins A and B contributes to binding specificity of the cyclin-CDK complex

Mitotic cyclins A and B contain a conserved N-terminal helix upstream of the cyclin box fold that contributes to a significant interface between cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK). To address its contribution on cyclin-CDK interaction, we have constructed mutants in conserved residues of the N-terminal helix of Xenopus cyclins B2 and A1. The mutants showed altered binding affinities to Cdc2 and/or Cdk2. We also screened for mutations in the C-terminal lobe of CDK that exhibited different binding affinities for the cyclin-CDK complex. These mutations were at residues that interact with the cyclin N-terminal helix motif. The cyclin N-terminal helix mutations have a significant effect on the interaction between the cyclin-CDK complex and specific substrates, Xenopus Cdc6 and Cdc25C. These results suggest that the N-terminal helix of mitotic cyclins is required for specific interactions with CDKs and that to interact with CDK, specific substrates Cdc6 and Cdc25C require the CDK to be associated with a cyclin. The interaction between the cyclin N-terminal helix and the CDK C-terminal lobe may contribute to binding specificity of the cyclin-CDK complex.     

An unexpected role for PI4,5P2 in EGF receptor endosomal trafficking

In mammalian cells, three Cdc25 phosphatases A, B, C coordinate cell cycle progression through activating dephosphorylation of Cyclin-dependent kinases. Whereas Cdc25B is believed to trigger entry into mitosis, Cdc25C is thought to act at a later stage of mitosis and in the nucleus. We report that a fraction of Cdc25C localises to centrosomes in a cell cycle-dependent fashion, as of late S phase and throughout G2 and mitosis. Moreover, Cdc25C colocalises with Cyclin B1 at centrosomes in G2 and in prophase and Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching experiments reveal that they are both in dynamic exchange between the centrosome and the cytoplasm. The centrosomal localisation of Cdc25C is essentially mediated by its catalytic C-terminal domain, but does not require catalytic activity. In fact phosphatase-dead and substrate-binding hotspot mutants of Cdc25C accumulate at centrosomes together with phosphoTyr15-Cdk1 and behave as dominant negative forms that impair entry into mitosis. Taken together, our data suggest an unexpected function for Cdc25C at the G2/M transition, in dephosphorylation of Cdk1. We propose that Cdc25C may participate in amplification of Cdk1-Cyclin B1 activity following initial activation by Cdc25B, and that this process is initiated at the centrosome, then further propagated throughout the cytoplasm thanks to the dynamic behavior of both Cdc25C and Cyclin B1.     

Pro-apoptotic Role of Cdc25A: ACTIVATION OF CYCLIN B1/Cdc2 BY THE Cdc25A C-TERMINAL DOMAIN*

Cdc25A is a dual specificity protein phosphatase that activates cyclin/cyclin-dependent protein kinase (Cdk) complexes by removing inhibitory phosphates from conserved threonine and tyrosine in Cdks. To address how Cdc25A promotes apoptosis, Jurkat cells were treated with staurosporine, an apoptosis inducer. Upon staurosporine treatment, a Cdc25A C-terminal 37-kDa fragment, designated C37, was generated by caspase cleavage at Asp-223. Thr-507 in C37 became dephosphorylated, which prevented 14-3-3 binding, as shown previously. C37 exhibited higher phosphatase activity than full-length Cdc25A. C37 with alanine substitution for Thr-507 (C37/T507A) that imitated the cleavage product during staurosporine treatment interacted with Cdc2, Cdk2, cyclin A, and cyclin B1 and markedly activated cyclin B1/Cdc2. The dephosphorylation of Thr-507 might expose the Cdc2/Cdk2-docking site in C37. C37/T507A also induced apoptosis in Jurkat and K562 cells, resulting from activating cyclin B1/Cdc2 but not Cdk2. Thus, this study reveals that Cdc25A is a pro-apoptotic protein that amplifies staurosporine-induced apoptosis through the activation of cyclin B1/Cdc2 by its C-terminal domain.     

Dual G1 and G2 phase inhibition by a novel,selective Cdc25 inhibitor 6-chloro-7-[corrected](2-morpholin-4-ylethylamino)-quinoline-5,8-dione

The Cdc25 dual specificity phosphatases coordinate cell cycle progression, but potent and selective inhibitors have generally been unavailable. In the present study, we have examined one potential inhibitor, 6-chloro-7-(2-morpholin-4-ylethylamino)-quinoline-5,8-dione (NSC 663284), that was identified in the compound library of the National Cancer Institute [corrected]. We found that NSC 663284 arrested synchronized cells at both G(1) and G(2)/M phase, and blocked dephosphorylation and activation of Cdk2 and Cdk1 in vivo, as predicted for a Cdc25 inhibitor. Using the natural Cdc25A substrate, Tyr(15)-phosphorylated Cdk2/cyclin A, we demonstrated that NSC 663284 blocked reactivation of Cdk2/cyclin A kinase by Cdc25A catalytic domain in vitro. In-gel trypsin digestion followed by capillary liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry revealed the direct binding of NSC 663284 to one of the two serine residues in the active site loop HCEFSSER of the Cdc25A catalytic domain. Cdc25 binding and inhibition could contribute to the anti-proliferative activity of NSC 663284 and its ability to arrest cell cycle progression. Moreover, NSC 663284 should be a valuable reagent to probe the actions of Cdc25 phosphatases within cells and may also be useful structure for the design of more potent and selective antiproliferative agents.     

Phosphorylation and activation of the Xenopus Cdc25 phosphatase in the absence of Cdc2 and Cdk2 kinase activity.

The M-phase inducer, Cdc25C, is a dual-specificity phosphatase that directly phosphorylates and activates the cyclin B/Cdc2 kinase complex, leading to initiation of mitosis. Cdc25 itself is activated at the G2/M transition by phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues. Previously, it was demonstrated that Cdc2 kinase is capable of phosphorylating and activating Cdc25, suggesting the existence of a positive feedback loop. In the present study, kinases other than Cdc2 that can phosphorylate and activate Cdc25 were investigated. Cdc25 was found to be phosphorylated and activated by cyclin A/Cdk2 and cyclin E/Cdk2 in vitro. However, in interphase Xenopus egg extracts with no detectable Cdc2 and Cdk2, treatment with the phosphatase inhibitor microcystin activated a distinct kinase that could phosphorylate and activate Cdc25. Microcystin also induced other mitotic phenomena such as chromosome condensation and nuclear envelope breakdown in extracts containing less than 5% of the mitotic level of Cdc2 kinase activity. These findings implicate a kinase other than Cdc2 and Cdk2 that may initially activate Cdc25 in vivo and suggest that this kinase may also phosphorylate M-phase substrates even in the absence of Cdc2 kinase.     

Heterologous expression and catalytic properties of the C-terminal domain of starfish cdc25 dual-specificity phosphatase, a cell cycle regulator

The 3'-terminal region of starfish Asterina pectinifera cdc25 cDNA encoding the C-terminal catalytic domain was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The C-terminal domain consisted of 226 amino acid residues containing the signature motif HCxxxxxR, a motif highly conserved among protein tyrosine and dual-specificity phosphatases, and showed phosphatase activity toward p-nitrophenyl phosphate. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by SH inhibitors. Mutational studies indicated that the cysteine and arginine residues in the conserved motif are essential for activity, but the histidine residue is not. These results suggest that the enzyme catalyzes the reaction through a two-step mechanism involving a phosphocysteine intermediate like in the cases of other protein tyrosine and dual-specificity phosphatases. The C-terminal domain of Cdc25 activated the histone H1 kinase activity of the purified, inactive form of Cdc2.cyclin B complex (preMPF) from extracts of immature starfish oocytes. Synthetic diphosphorylated di- to nonadecapeptides mimicking amino acid sequences around the dephosphorylation site of Cdc2 still retained substrate activity. Phosphotyrosine and phosphothreonine underwent dephosphorylation in this order. This is the reverse order to that reported for the in vivo and in vitro dephosphorylation of preMPF. Monophosphopeptides having the same sequence served as much poorer substrates. As judged from the results with synthetic phosphopeptides, the presence of two phosphorylated residues was important for specific recognition of substrates by the Cdc25 phosphatase.     

The dual specificity phosphatase Cdc25B, but not the closely related Cdc25C, is capable of inhibiting cellular proliferation in a manner dependent upon its catalytic activity

Cdc25B and Cdc25C are closely related dual specificity phosphatases that activate cyclin-dependent kinases by removal of inhibitory phosphorylations, thereby triggering entry into mitosis. Cdc25B, but not Cdc25C, has been implicated as an oncogene and been shown to be overexpressed in a variety of human tumors. Surprisingly, ectopic expression of Cdc25B, but not Cdc25C, inhibits cell proliferation in long term assays. Chimeric proteins generated from the two phosphatases show that the anti-proliferative activity is associated with the C-terminal end of Cdc25B. Indeed, the catalytic domain of Cdc25B is sufficient to suppress cell viability in a manner partially dependent upon its C-terminal 26 amino acids that is shown to influence substrate binding. Mutation analysis demonstrates that both the phosphatase activity of Cdc25B as well as its ability to interact with its substrates contribute to the inhibition of cell proliferation. These results demonstrate key differences in the biological activities of Cdc25B and Cdc25C caused by differential substrate affinity and recognition. This also argues that the antiproliferative activity of Cdc25B needs to be overcome for it to act as an oncogene during tumorigenesis.     

The Acidic Tail domain of Human Cdc34 is Required for p27Kip1 Ubiquitination and Complementation of a cdc34 Temperature Sensitive Yeast Strain

Human Cdc34 is an ubiquitin conjugating enzyme or E2 that ubiquitinates substrates including p27Kip1, I?B?, Wee1, and MyoD. Cdc34 possesses a core catalytic domain encoding the active site cysteine and an acidic tail domain within the carboxyl terminal 36 amino acids. Studies suggest that Cdc34 is phosphorylated in mammalian cells at 5 potential residues within the tail domain. In order to study the biological significance of the Cdc34 acidic tail domain and the possible significance of phosphorylation within this region, we tested the ability of human Cdc34 mutants to complement the cdc34-2 temperature sensitive (ts) strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our studies indicated that complementation of the cdc34-2 ts strain was critically dependent upon the carboxyl-terminal 36 amino acids of human Cdc34, but did not require phosphorylation of human Cdc34 residues S203, S222, S231, T233, and S236. Further studies demonstrated that although a Cdc34 mutant bearing a deletion of the C-terminal 36 amino acids (Cdc34 1-200) was efficiently charged with ubiquitin by E1, it was severely reduced for the ability to ubiquitinate p27Kip1 in vitro compared to wildtype Cdc34. Both in vivo and in vitro binding studies indicated that Cdc34 1-200 bound to the E3-SCF components, Cul1 and Roc1, at levels comparable to the wildtype Cdc34. These studies suggest that the 36 amino acid acidic tail domain of human Cdc34 is critical for its ability to transfer ubiquitin to a substrate and is dispensable for the association of Cdc34 with Cul1 and Roc1. We postulate that the tail domain of Cdc34 may be important for its efficient dissociation from Cul1 and Roc1, an essential requirement for ubiquitination by the budding yeast Cdc34p, or it may be required more directly for ubiquitin transfer to the substrate.     

Cdc37 interacts with the glycine-rich loop of Hsp90 client kinases

Recently, we identified a client-binding site of Cdc37 that is required for its association with protein kinases. Phage display technology and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (which identifies a total of 33 proteins) consistently identify a unique sequence, GXFG, as a Cdc37-interacting motif that occurs in the canonical glycine-rich loop (GXGXXG) of protein kinases, regardless of their dependence on Hsp90 or Cdc37. The glycine-rich motif of Raf-1 (GSGSFG) is necessary for its association with Cdc37; nevertheless, the N lobe of Raf-1 (which includes the GSGSFG motif) on its own cannot interact with Cdc37. Chimeric mutants of Cdk2 and Cdk4, which differ sharply in their affinities toward Cdc37, show that their C-terminal portions may determine this difference. In addition, a nonclient kinase, the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, interacts with Cdc37 but only when a threonine residue in the activation segment of its C lobe is unphosphorylated. Thus, although a region in the C termini of protein kinases may be crucial for accomplishing and maintaining their interaction with Cdc37, we conclude that the N-terminal glycine-rich loop of protein kinases is essential for physically associating with Cdc37.     

Human Cdc14A phosphatase modulates the G2/M transition through Cdc25A and Cdc25B

The Cdc14 family of serine-threonine phosphatases antagonizes CDK activity by reversing CDK-dependent phosphorylation events. It is well established that the yeast members of this family bring about the M/G1 transition. Budding yeast Cdc14 is essential for CDK inactivation at the end of mitosis and fission yeast Cdc14 homologue Flp1/Clp1 down-regulates Cdc25 to ensure the inactivation of mitotic CDK complexes to trigger cell division. However, the functions of human Cdc14 homologues remain poorly understood. Here we have tested the hypothesis that Cdc14A might regulate Cdc25 mitotic inducers in human cells. We found that increasing levels of Cdc14A delay entry into mitosis by inhibiting Cdk1-cyclin B1 activity. By contrast, lowering the levels of Cdc14A accelerates mitotic entry. Biochemical analyses revealed that Cdc14A acts through key Cdk1-cyclin B1 regulators. We observed that Cdc14A directly bound to and dephosphorylated Cdc25B, inhibiting its catalytic activity. Cdc14A also regulated the activity of Cdc25A at the G2/M transition. Our results indicate that Cdc14A phosphatase prevents premature activation of Cdk1 regulating Cdc25A and Cdc25B at the entry into mitosis.     

The Drosophila mitotic inhibitor Frühstart specifically binds to the hydrophobic patch of cyclins

The hydrophobic patch of cyclins interacts with cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) substrates and p27-type Cdk inhibitors. Although this interaction is assumed to contribute to the specificity of different Cdk-Cyclin complexes, its role in specific steps of the cell cycle has not been demonstrated. Here, we show that in Drosophila the mitotic inhibitor Frühstart (Frs) binds specifically and with high affinity to the hydrophobic patch of cyclins. In contrast to p27-type Cdk inhibitors, Frs does not form a stable interaction with the catalytic centre of Cdk and allows phosphorylation of generic model substrates, such as histone H1. Consistent with a 2.5 times stronger binding to CycA than to CycE in vitro, ectopic expression of frs induces endocycles, in a manner similar to that reported previously for downregulation of CycA or Cdk1. We propose that binding of Frs to cyclins blocks the hydrophobic patch to interfere with Cdk1 substrate recognition.     

Human Cdc25A phosphatase has a non-redundant function in G2 phase by activating Cyclin A-dependent kinases

Cdc25 phosphatases activate Cdk/Cyclin complexes by dephosphorylation and thus promote cell cycle progression. We observed that the peak activity of Cdc25A precedes the one of Cdc25B in prophase and the maximum of Cyclin/Cdk kinase activity. Furthermore, Cdc25A activates both Cdk1-2/Cyclin A and Cdk1/Cyclin B complexes while Cdc25B seems to be involved only in activation of Cdk1/Cyclin B. Concomitantly, repression of Cdc25A led to a decrease in Cyclin A-associated kinase activity and attenuated Cdk1 activation. Our results indicate that Cdc25A acts before Cdc25B - at least in cancer cells, and has non-redundant functions in late G2/early M-phase as a major regulator of Cyclin A/kinase complexes.     

The RRASK motif in Xenopus cyclin B2 is required for the substrate recognition of Cdc25C by the cyclin B-Cdc2 complex

The FLRRXSK sequence is conserved in the second cyclin box fold of B-type cyclins. We show that this conserved sequence in Xenopus cyclin B2, termed the RRASK motif, is required for the substrate recognition by the cyclin B-Cdc2 complex of Cdc25C. Mutations to charged residues of the RRASK motif of cyclin B2 abolished its ability to activate Cdc2 kinase without affecting its capacity to bind to Cdc2. Cdc2 bound to the cyclin B2 RRASK mutant was not dephosphorylated by Cdc25C, and as a result, the complex was inactive. The cyclin B2 RRASK mutants can form a complex with the constitutively active Cdc2, but a resulting active complex did not phosphorylate a preferred substrate Cdc25C in vitro, although it can phosphorylate the non-specific substrate histone H1. The RRASK mutations prevented the interaction of Cdc25C with the cyclin B2-Cdc2 complex. Consistently, the RRASK mutants neither induced germinal vesicle breakdown in Xenopus oocyte maturation nor activated in vivo Cdc2 kinase during the cell cycle in mitotic extracts. These results suggest that the RRASK motif in Xenopus cyclin B2 plays an important role in defining the substrate specificity of the cyclin B-Cdc2 complex.