The multiple roles of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitory protein p57(KIP2) in cerebral cortical neurogenesis

The members of the CIP/KIP family of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitory proteins (CKIs), including p57(KIP2), p27(KIP1), and p21(CIP1), block the progression of the cell cycle by binding and inhibiting cyclin/CDK complexes of the G1 phase. In addition to this well-characterized function, p57(KIP2) and p27(KIP1) have been shown to participate in an increasing number of other important cellular processes including cell fate and differentiation, cell motility and migration, and cell death/survival, both in peripheral and central nervous systems. Increasing evidence over the past few years has characterized the functions of the newest CIP/KIP member p57(KIP2) in orchestrating cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration during neurogenesis. Here, we focus our discussion on the multiple roles played by p57(KIP2) during cortical development, making comparisons to p27(KIP1) as well as the INK4 family of CKIs.     

Cyclin Proteolysis and CDK Inhibitors: Two Redundant Pathways to Maintain Genome Stability in Mammalian Cells

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are regulated by cyclin proteolysis and CDK inhibitors (CKIs) during mitotic exit and G1 phase in yeast and Drosophila, and disruption of both regulatory pathways leads to genomic instability. Our study using mouse cell lines that constitutively express a stabilized mutant of cyclin A revealed that three CKIs, p21, p27, and Rb-related p107, are responsible for cyclin proteolysis-independent inactivation of CDK during mitotic exit and G1. Enforced expression of cyclin A in the cells lacking all three CKIs induced rapid tetraploidization. Thus, the redundant pathways consisting of cyclin proteolysis and CKIs control CDK activity during mitotic exit and contribute to maintenance of genome stability in mammalian cells.     

Ras activity late in G1 phase required for p27kip1 downregulation, passage through the restriction point, and entry into S phase in growth factor-stimulated NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.

It is well documented that Ras functions as a molecular switch for reentry into the cell cycle at the border between G0 and G1 by transducing extracellular growth stimuli into early G1 mitogenic signals. In the present study, we investigated the role of Ras during the late stage of the G1 phase by using NIH 3T3 (M17) fibroblasts in which the expression of a dominant negative Ras mutant, p21(Ha-Ras[Asn17]), is induced in response to dexamethasone treatment. We found that delaying the expression of Ras(Asn17) until late in the G1 phase by introducing dexamethasone 3 h after the addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) abolished the downregulation of the p27kip1 cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor which normally occurred during this period, with resultant suppression of cyclin Ds/CDK4 and cyclin E/CDK2 and G1 arrest. The immunodepletion of p27kip1 completely eliminated the CDK inhibitor activity from EGF-stimulated, dexamethasone-treated cell lysate. The failure of p27kip1 downregulation and G1 arrest was also observed in cells in which Ras(Asn17) was induced after growth stimulation with a phorbol ester or alpha-thrombin and was mimicked by the addition late in the G1 phase of inhibitors for phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase. Ras-mediated downregulation of p27kip1 involved both the suppression of synthesis and the stimulation of the degradation of the protein. Unlike the earlier expression of Ras(Asn17) at the border between G0 and G1, its delayed expression did not compromise the EGF-stimulated transient activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases or inhibit the stimulated expression of a principal D-type cyclin, cyclin D1, until close to the border between G1 and S. We conclude that Ras plays temporally distinct, phase-specific roles throughout the G1 phase and that Ras function late in G1 is required for p27kip1 downregulation and passage through the restriction point, a prerequisite for entry into the S phase.     

Cellular thiol status-dependent inhibition of tumor cell growth via modulation of p27<Superscript>kip1</Superscript> translocation and retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation by 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate

Summary. 1′-Acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) has been shown to inhibit tumor cell growth, but there is limited information on its effects on cell signaling and the cell cycle control pathway. In this study, we sought to determine how ACA alters cell cycle and its related control factors in its growth inhibitory effect in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC). ACA caused an accumulation of cells in the G1 phase and an inhibition of DNA synthesis, which were reversed by supplementation with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or glutathione ethyl ester (GEE). Furthermore, ACA decreased hyperphosphorylated Rb levels and increased hypophosphorylated Rb levels. NAC and GEE also abolished the decease in Rb phosphorylation by ACA. As Rb phosphorylation is regulated by G1 cyclin dependent kinase and CDK inhibitor p27^kip1, which is an important regulator of the mammalian cell cycle, we estimated the amount of p27^kip1 levels by western blotting. Treatment with ACA had virtually no effect on the amount of p27^kip1 levels, but caused a decrease in phosphorylated p27^kip1 and an increase in unphosphorylated p27^kip1 as well as an increase in the nuclear localization of p27^kip1. These events were abolished in the presence of NAC or GEE. These results suggest that in EATC, cell growth inhibition elicited by ACA involves decreases in Rb and p27^kip1 phosphorylation and an increase in nuclear localization of p27^kip1, and these events are dependent on the cellular thiol status.     

Genetic characterization of p27kip1 and stathmin in controlling cell proliferation in vivo

The CDK inhibitor p27^kip1 is a critical regulator of cell cycle progression, but the mechanisms by which p27^kip1 controls cell proliferation in vivo are still not fully elucidated. We recently demonstrated that the microtubule destabilizing protein stathmin is a relevant p27^kip1 binding partner. To get more insights into the in vivo significance of this interaction, we generated p27^kip1 and stathmin double knock-out (DKO) mice. Interestingly, thorough characterization of DKO mice demonstrated that most of the phenotypes of p27^kip1 null mice linked to the hyper-proliferative behavior, such as the increased body and organ weight, the outgrowth of the retina basal layer and the development of pituitary adenomas, were reverted by co-ablation of stathmin. In vivo analyses showed a reduced proliferation rate in DKO compared to p27^kip1 null mice, linked, at molecular level, to decreased kinase activity of CDK4/6, rather than of CDK1 and CDK2. Gene expression profiling of mouse thymuses confirmed the phenotypes observed in vivo, showing that DKO clustered with WT more than with p27 knock-out tissue. Taken together, our results demonstrate that stathmin cooperates with p27^kip1 to control the early phase of G1 to S phase transition and that this function may be of particular relevance in the context of tumor progression.     

Hesperetin, a bioflavonoid, inhibits rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation by arresting cell cycle

Diet can be one of the most important factors that influence risks for cardiovascular diseases. Hesperetin, a flavonoid present in grapefruits and oranges, is one candidate that may benefit the cardiovascular system. In this study, we have investigated the effect of hesperetin on the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced proliferation of primary cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Hesperetin significantly inhibited 50 ng/ml PDGF-BB-induced rat aortic VSMCs proliferation and [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA at concentrations of 5, 25, 50, and 100 microM. In accordance with these findings, hesperetin revealed blocking of the PDGF-BB-inducible progression through G(0)/G(1) to S phase of the cell cycle in synchronized cells. Western blot showed that hesperetin inhibited not only phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRb) and expressions of cyclin A, cyclin D, cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) as well as proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein, but also downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) p27(kip1), while did not affect CKI p21(cip1), p16(INK4), p53, and CDK4 expressions as well as early signaling transductions such as PDGF beta-receptor, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, Akt, p38, and JNK phosphorylation. These results suggest that hesperetin inhibits PDGF-BB-induced rat aortic VSMCs proliferation via G(0)/G(1) arrest in association with modulation of the expression or activation of cell-cycle regulatory proteins, which may contribute to the beneficial effect of grapefruits and oranges on cardiovascular system.     

Nature of the Critical Labile Event That Controls RB Phosphorylation in the Cyclic AMP-Dependent Cell Cycle of Thyrocytes in Primary Culture

This study addresses the nature of the critical labile event that couples at restriction point mitogenic cascades with the autonomous part of the cell cycle. In primary cultures of dog thyroid epithelial cells, kinetic experiments indicate that a labile cAMP-dependent event positively controls a late G1 commitment to DNA replication and RB phosphorylation. As previously shown in this system, the cAMP-dependent mitogenic pathway differs from the most generally envisaged growth factor cascades as it stimulates the accumulation of p27(kip1) but not of cyclins D. Nevertheless, cyclin D3 and CDK4 activity are essential in the cAMP-dependent mitogenesis, and cAMP unmasks the DCS-22 epitope of cyclin D3 and induces the nuclear translocations and assembly of cyclin D3 and CDK4 in a complex that also contains p27(kip1). Unexpectedly, the washing out of forskolin rapidly arrested S phase entry and the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated RB, but did not reverse any of the above events associated with cyclin D3-CDK4 activation. This implies that even after induction of stable nuclear cyclin D3-CDK4 complexes, dog thyrocytes still depend on cAMP for RB phosphorylation and commitment to DNA synthesis, which suggests that a key labile event responsible for a last control of restriction point passage remains to be uncovered, in the cAMP-dependent cell cycle of dog thyrocytes and possibly other systems.     

Glucocorticoids Induce G1 as Well as S-Phase Lengthening in Normal Human Stimulated Lymphocytes: Differential Effects on Cell Cycle Regulatory Proteins

In order to analyze dexamethasone effects on peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation, we defined various experimental conditions: dexamethasone introduced (i) at the time of phytohemagglutinin stimulation, (ii) 48 h after the beginning of phytohemagglutinin stimulation, and (iii) on unstimulated lymphocytes. In stimulated lymphocytes, we observed an early G1 accumulation (P< 0.005), a delayed increase in the duration of S-phase (P< 0.03), and a consequent increase in cell-cycle duration. The expression of several cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), and CDK inhibitors (CKIs) was modified. Cyclin D3, CDK4, and CDK6 involved in G1-phase control were significantly decreased under dexamethasone treatment whatever the level of stimulation of lymphocytes (stimulated or unstimulated PBL). Cyclin E and CDK2, acting in G1/S-phase transition and S-phase regulation, decreased in stimulated lymphocytes before any modification of S-phase (P< 0.002). The expression of CKIs, mainly of p27^Kip1, appeared to vary with the degree of cell stimulation: a decrease was observed on treated unstimulated lymphocytes, while p27^Kip1increased in dexamethasone-treated cells during stimulation. Our results indicate sequential modifications of the cell-cycle regulation by dexamethasone starting with an action on G1 followed by S-phase control modifications. The protein analysis pinpoints the major complexes concerned: CDK4 and CDK6/cyclin D are mainly involved in G1-phase modifications, while CDK2 and its partner, cyclin E, might be specifically involved in the lengthening of S-phase. The variations observed for p27^Kip1might amplify the functional effects of dexamethasone on kinasic complexes.     

CDK inhibitors,p21 and p27, participate in cell cycle exit of mammalian cardiomyocytes

Mammalian cardiomyocytes actively proliferate during embryonic stages, following which cardiomyocytes exit their cell cycle after birth. The irreversible cell cycle exit inhibits cardiac regeneration by the proliferation of pre-existing cardiomyocytes. Exactly how the cell cycle exit occurs remains largely unknown. Previously, we showed that cyclin E- and cyclin A-CDK activities are inhibited before the CDKs levels decrease in postnatal stages. This result suggests that factors such as CDK inhibitors (CKIs) inhibit CDK activities, and contribute to the cell cycle exit. In the present study, we focused on a Cip/Kip family, which can inhibit cyclin E- and cyclin A-CDK activities. Expression of p21^Cip1 and p27^Kip1 but not p57^Kip2 showed a peak around postnatal day 5, when cyclin E- and cyclin A-CDK activities start to decrease. p21^Cip1 and p27^Kip1 bound to cyclin E, cyclin A and CDK2 at postnatal stages. Cell cycle distribution patterns of postnatal cardiomyocytes in p21^Cip1 and p27^Kip1 knockout mice showed failure in the cell cycle exit at G1-phase, and endoreplication. These results indicate that p21^Cip1 and p27^Kip play important roles in the cell cycle exit of postnatal cardiomyocytes.     

Phosphorylations of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 revisited using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

To control the G1/S transition and the progression through the S phase, the activation of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2 involves the binding of cyclin E then cyclin A, the activating Thr-160 phosphorylation within the T-loop by CDK-activating kinase (CAK), inhibitory phosphorylations within the ATP binding region at Tyr-15 and Thr-14, dephosphorylation of these sites by cdc25A, and release from Cip/Kip family (p27kip1 and p21cip1) CDK inhibitors. To re-assess the precise relationship between the different phosphorylations of CDK2, and the influence of cyclins and CDK inhibitors upon them, we introduce here the use of the high resolution power of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, combined to Tyr-15- or Thr-160-phosphospecific antibodies. The relative proportions of the potentially active forms of CDK2 (phosphorylated at Thr-160 but not Tyr-15) and inactive forms (non-phosphorylated, phosphorylated only at Tyr-15, or at both Tyr-15 and Thr-160), and their respective association with cyclin E, cyclin A, p21, and p27, were demonstrated during the mitogenic stimulation of normal human fibroblasts. Novel observations modify the current model of the sequential CDK2 activation process: (i) Tyr-15 phosphorylation induced by serum was not restricted to cyclin-bound CDK2; (ii) Thr-160 phosphorylation engaged the entirety of Tyr-15-phosphorylated CDK2 associated not only with a cyclin but also with p27 and p21, suggesting that Cip/Kip proteins do not prevent CDK2 activity by impairing its phosphorylation by CAK; (iii) the potentially active CDK2 phosphorylated at Thr-160 but not Tyr-15 represented a tiny fraction of total CDK2 and a minor fraction of cyclin A-bound CDK2, underscoring the rate-limiting role of Tyr-15 dephosphorylation by cdc25A.     

The cyclin D3-CDK4-p27kip1 holoenzyme in thyroid epithelial cells: activation by TSH, inhibition by TGFbeta, and phosphorylations of its subunits demonstrated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

The cAMP-dependent mitogenic stimulation elicited by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in primary cultures of canine thyroid epithelial cells is unique as it upregulates the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p27kip1 but not D-type cyclins. TSH and cAMP promote the assembly of required cyclin D3-CDK4 complexes and their nuclear import. Here, the nuclear translocation of these complexes strictly correlated in individual cells with the enhanced presence of nuclear p27. p27, like cyclin D3, supported the TSH-stimulated pRb-kinase activity of the CDK4 complex and, as demonstrated using the high-resolution power of the two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis, the phosphorylation of CDK4, presumably by the nuclear CDK-activating kinase. In the presence of TSH, transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) did not affect the assembly of cyclin D3-CDK4, but it strongly inhibited the pRb-kinase activity associated with both cyclin D3 and p27, not only by preventing the nuclear import of cyclin D3-CDK4 and its binding to p27, but also by inhibiting CDK4 phosphorylation within residual p27-bound cyclin D3-CDK4 complexes. No alterations of the relative abundance of multiple (un)phosphorylated forms of cyclin D3 and p27 demonstrated by 2D-gel electrophoresis were associated with these processes. This study suggests a crucial positive role of p27 in the TSH-stimulated nuclear import, phosphorylation, and catalytic activity of cyclin D3-bound CDK4. Moreover, it demonstrates a technique to directly assess the in vivo phosphorylation of endogenous CDK4, which might appear as a last regulated step targeted by the antagonistic cell cycle effects of TSH and TGFbeta.     

Inhibition of mitogenesis in Balb/c-3T3 cells by Trichostatin A. Multiple alterations in the induction and activation of cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase complexes

Trichostatin A (TSA), a global repressor of histone deacetylase activity, inhibits the proliferation of a number of cell types. However, the identification of the mechanisms underlying TSA-mediated growth arrests has remained elusive. In order to resolve in more detail the cellular process modulated during the growth inhibition induced by TSA, we studied the effect of the drug on G(0)/G(1) traverse in mitogen-stimulated quiescent Balb/c-3T3 cells. Cyclin D1 and retinoblastoma proteins were induced following the mitogenic stimulation of both control and TSA-treated cells, and cyclin D1 formed complexes with CDK4 under both conditions. However, cyclin D1-associated kinase was not increased in growth-arrested cells. The lack of cyclin D-associated kinase was paralleled by an accumulation of RB in a hypophosphorylated form, as would be expected. In contrast, p130 became partially phosphorylated, accompanied by a marked increase in p130-dependent E2F DNA binding activity and a partial release of free E2F-4. Despite the presence of E2F complexes not bound to pocket proteins, late G(1) E2F-dependent gene expression was not observed. The lack of cyclin D1-associated kinase in TSA-treated cultures was potentially due to high levels of the cyclin-dependent inhibitor p27(kip1). However, the modulation of p27(kip1) levels by the deacetylase inhibitor cannot be responsible for the induction of the cell cycle arrest, since the growth of murine embryo fibroblasts deficient in both p27(kip1) and p21(cip1) was also inhibited by TSA. These data support a model in which TSA inhibits very early cell cycle traverse, which, in turn, leads to a decrease in cyclin D1-associated kinase activation and a repression of late cell cycle-dependent events. Alterations in early G(0)/G(1) gene expression accompany the TSA-mediated growth arrest.     

Downregulation of p57kip2 promotes cell invasion via LIMK/cofilin pathway in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

The members of Rho family are well known for their regulation of actin cytoskeleton to control cell migration. The Cip/kip members of cyclin‐dependent (CDK) inhibitors have shown to implicate in cell migration and cytoskeletal dynamics. p57^kip2, a CDK inhibitor, is frequently down‐regulated in several malignancy tumors. However, its biological roles in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells remained to be investigated. Here, we found p57^kip2 has nuclear and cytoplasm distributions and depletion of endogenous p57^kip2 did not change the cell‐cycle progression. Inhibition of cell proliferation by mitomycin C promoted FBS‐mediated cell migration and accompanied with the downregulation of ΔNp63α and p57^kip2, but did not change the level of p27^kip1, another CDK inhibitor. By using siRNA transfection and cell migration/invasion assays, we found that knockdown of p57^kip2, but not ΔNp63α, involved in promotion of NPC cell migration and invasion via decrease of phospho‐cofilin (p‐cofilin). Treatment with Y‐27632, a specific ROCK inhibitor, we found that dysregulation of ROCK/cofilin pathway decreased p‐cofilin expression and induced cell migration. This change of p‐cofilin induced actin remodeling and pronounced increase of membrane protrusions. Further, silence of p57^kip2 not only decreased the interaction between p57^kip2 and LIMK‐1 assayed by immunoprecipitation but also reduced the level of phospho‐LIMK1/2. Therefore, this study indicated that dysregulation of p57^kip2 promoted cell migration and invasion through modulation of LIMK/cofilin signaling and suggested this induction of inappropriate cell motility might contribute to promoting tumor cell for metastasis. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 3459–3468, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Repression of p27kip1 synthesis by platelet-derived growth factor in BALB/c 3T3 cells.

We have investigated the regulation of p27kip1, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, in BALB/c 3T3 cells during growth factor-stimulated transition from quiescence (G0) to a proliferative (G1) state. The level of p27kip1 protein falls dramatically after mitogenic stimulation and is accompanied by a decrease in cyclin E associated p27kip1, as well as a transient increase in cyclin D1-associated p27kip1 that later declines concomitantly with the loss of total p27kip1. Analysis of metabolically labelled cells revealed that cyclin D2, cyclin D3, and cdk4 were also partnered with p27kip1 in quiescent BALB/c 3T3 cells and that this association decreased after platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) treatment. Furthermore, the decline in p27kip1 and reduced association with cyclin D3, initiated by the addition of PDGF but not plasma-derived factors, suggested that these changes are involved in competence, the first step in the exit from G0. Synthesis of p27kip1 as determined by incorporation of [35S]methionine was repressed upon mitogenic stimulation, and PDGF was sufficient to elicit this repression within 2 to 3 h. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated the reduced rate of synthesis was not the result of an increased rate of degradation. Full repression of p27kip1 synthesis required the continued presence of PDGF and failed to occur in the presence of the RNA polymerase inhibitor 5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole riboside. These characteristics demonstrate that repression was a late effect of PDGF and was consistent with our finding that conditional expression of activated H-ras did not affect synthesis of p27kip1. Northern (RNA) analysis of p27kip1 mRNA revealed that the repression was not accompanied by a corresponding decrease in p27kip1 mRNA, suggesting that the PDGF-regulated decrease in p27kip1 expression occurred through a translational mechanism.     

Targeted Disruption of CDK4 Delays Cell Cycle Entry with Enhanced p27Kip1 Activity

The mechanism by which cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) regulates cell cycle progression is not entirely clear. Cyclin D/CDK4 appears to initiate phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb) leading to inactivation of the S-phase-inhibitory action of Rb. However, cyclin D/CDK4 has been postulated to act in a noncatalytic manner to regulate the cyclin E/CDK2-inhibitory activity of p27(Kip1) by sequestration. In this study we investigated the roles of CDK4 in cell cycle regulation by targeted disruption of the mouse CDK4 gene. CDK4(-/-) mice survived embryogenesis and showed growth retardation and reproductive dysfunction associated with hypoplastic seminiferous tubules in the testis and perturbed corpus luteum formation in the ovary. These phenotypes appear to be opposite to those of p27-deficient mice such as gigantism and gonadal hyperplasia. A majority of CDK4(-/-) mice developed diabetes mellitus by 6 weeks, associated with degeneration of pancreatic islets. Fibroblasts from CDK4(-/-) mouse embryos proliferated similarly to wild-type embryonic fibroblasts under conditions that promote continuous growth. However, quiescent CDK4(-/-) fibroblasts exhibited a substantial ( approximately 6-h) delay in S-phase entry after serum stimulation. This cell cycle perturbation by CDK4 disruption was associated with increased binding of p27 to cyclin E/CDK2 and diminished activation of CDK2 accompanied by impaired Rb phosphorylation. Importantly, fibroblasts from CDK4(-/-) p27(-/-) embryos displayed partially restored kinetics of the G(0)-S transition, indicating the significance of the sequestration of p27 by CDK4. These results suggest that at least part of CDK4's participation in the rate-limiting mechanism for the G(0)-S transition consists of controlling p27 activity.     

Cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of cyclin D3-bound CDK4 determines the passage through the cell cycle restriction point in thyroid epithelial cells

According to current concepts, the cell cycle commitment after restriction (R) point passage requires the sustained stimulation by mitogens of the synthesis of labile d-type cyclins, which associate with cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 to phosphorylate pRb family proteins and sequester the CDK inhibitor p27kip1. In primary cultures of dog thyroid epithelial cells, the cAMP-dependent cell cycle induced by a sustained stimulation by thyrotropin or forskolin differs from growth factor mitogenic pathways, as cAMP does not upregulate d-type cyclins but increases p27 levels. Instead, cAMP induces the assembly of required cyclin D3-CDK4 complexes, which associate with nuclear p27. In this study, the arrest of forskolin stimulation rapidly slowed down the entry of dog thyrocytes into S phase and the phosphorylation of pRb family proteins. The pRb kinase activity, but not the formation, of the cyclin D3-CDK4-p27 complex was strongly reduced. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, a phosphorylated form of CDK4 was separated. It appeared in response to forskolin and was bound to both cyclin D3 and p27, presumably reflecting the activating Thr-172 phosphorylation of CDK4. Upon forskolin withdrawal or after cycloheximide addition, this CDK4 phosphoform unexpectedly persisted in p27 complexes devoid of cyclin D3 but it disappeared from the more labile cyclin D3 complexes. These data demonstrate that the assembly of the cyclin D3-CDK4-p27 holoenzyme and the subsequent phosphorylation and activation of CDK4 depend on distinct cAMP actions. This provides a first example of a crucial regulation of CDK4 phosphorylation by a mitogenic cascade and a novel mechanism of cell cycle control at the R point.     

The tumor-specific hyperactive forms of cyclin E are resistant to inhibition by p21 and p27

The low molecular weight (LMW) isoforms of cyclin E are unique to cancer cells. In breast cancer, such alteration of cyclin E is a very strong predictor of poor patient outcome. Here we show that alteration in binding properties of these LMW isoforms to CDK2 and the CDK inhibitors (CKIs), p21 and p27, results in their functional hyperactivity. The LMW forms of cyclin E are severalfold more effective at binding to CDK2. Additionally, compared with the full-length cyclin E-CDK2 complexes, the LMW cyclin E-CDK2 complexes are significantly more resistant to inhibition by p21 and p27, despite equal binding of the CKIs to the LMW complexes. When both the full-length and the LMW cyclin E are co-expressed, p27 preferentially binds to the LMW forms yet is unable to inhibit the CDK2 activity. Thus, the LMW forms of cyclin E may contribute to tumorigenesis through their resistance to the inhibitory activities of p21 and p27 while sequestering these CKIs from the full-length cyclin E.     

Glucocorticoids inhibit developmental stage-specific osteoblast cell cycle. Dissociation of cyclin A-cyclin-dependent kinase 2 from E2F4-p130 complexes

Unique cell cycle control is instituted in confluent osteoblast cultures, driving growth to high density. The postconfluent dividing cells share features with cells that normally exit the cell cycle; p27(kip1) is increased, p21(waf1/cip1) is decreased, free E2F DNA binding activity is reduced, and E2F4 is primarily nuclear. E2F4-p130 becomes the predominant E2F-pocket complex formed on E2F sites, but, unlike the complex that typifies resting cells, cyclin A and CDK2 are also present. Administration of dexamethasone at this, but not earlier stages, results in reduction of cyclin A and CDK2 levels with a parallel decrease in the associated kinase activity, dissociation of cyclin A-CDK2 from the E2F4-p130 complexes, and inhibition of G(1)/S transition. The glucocorticoid-mediated cell cycle attenuation is also accompanied by, but not attributable to, increased p27(kip1) and decreased p21(waf1/cip1) levels. The attenuation of osteoblast growth to high density by dexamethasone is associated with severe impairment of mineralized extracellular matrix formation, unless treatment commences in cultures that have already grown to high density. Both the antimitotic and the antiphenotypic effects are reversible, and both are antagonized by RU486. Thus, glucocorticoids induce premature attenuation of the osteoblast cell cycle, possibly contributing to the osteoporosis induced by these drugs in vivo.     

Regulated expression of cofilin and the consequent regulation of p27kip1 are essential for G1 phase progression

Cofilin, a ubiquitously expressed actin binding protein, is responsible for the formation of the actin cytoskeleton and is indispensable for cell cycle control. However, the association between cofilin expression and the cell cycle remains to be elucidated. In this study, we found that the expression level of cofilin up-regulated in G1 phase-arrested confluent cells, while knockdown of cofilin expression by small interference RNA (siRNA) in these cells led to a reduction in the population of G1 cells. To investigate the role of cofilin in the control of G1 phase progression, a tet-on gene expression system was introduced to over-express different concentrations of cofilin in cells. The results showed that G1 phase progression was blocked following induction of exogenous cofilin. A survey of the cell cycle proteins controlling the G1 phase progression revealed that the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) p27kip1 was the primary molecule induced by over-expressed cofilin in a time and dose dependent manner. Up-regulated p27kip1 repressed phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) mediated by cyclin D1/CDK4 activity. Conversely, siRNA against p27kip1 expression in the cofilin over-expressing cells released the G1 phase arrest. Furthermore, we found that over-expression of cofilin led to induction of p27kip1 gene promoter transactivation using luciferase reporter gene assay. This effect was associated with increase of p27kip1 mRNA transiently. In addition, inhibition of threonine-187 phosphorylation of p27kip1 protein for ubiquitinyl-proteasomal mediated degradation was also involved in up-regulation of p27 kip1. These data suggest that cofilin expression and its regulation of p27kip1 expression is important for the control of G1 phase progression.