Activation of Xenopus Chk1 by mutagenesis of threonine-377

Xenopus Chk1 (Xchk1) is required for the checkpoint-associated delay of the cell cycle in frog egg extracts containing unreplicated or UV-damaged DNA. Phosphorylation of Xchk1 at multiple sites in the SQ/TQ domain (residues 314-366) in response to unreplicated or UV-damaged DNA results in elevation of its kinase activity. We have found that mutagenesis of Thr-377 in the conserved Thr-Arg-Phe (TRF) motif of Xchk1 also leads to a substantial increase in kinase activity. Thr-377 does not appear to be a site of phosphorylation in Xchk1. These findings suggest that Thr-377 may play a role in suppressing the activity of Xchk1.