Journal Article

Regulation of G2/M Transition by Inhibition of WEE1 and PKMYT1 Kinases

Platzer, Charlott, Najjar, Abdulkarim, Rohe, Alexander, Schmidt, Matthias, Erdmann, Frank, Sippl, Wolfgang

2017

Overview

In the cell cycle, there are two checkpoint arrests that allow cells to repair damaged DNA in order to maintain genomic integrity. Many cancer cells have defective G1 checkpoint mechanisms, thus depending on the G2 checkpoint far more than normal cells. G2 checkpoint abrogation is therefore a promising concept to preferably damage cancerous cells over normal cells. The main factor influencing the decision to enter mitosis is a complex composed of Cdk1 and cyclin B. Cdk1/CycB is regulated by various feedback mechanisms, in particular inhibitory phosphorylations at Thr14 and Tyr15 of Cdk1. In fact, Cdk1/CycB activity is restricted by the balance between WEE family kinases and Cdc25 phosphatases. The WEE kinase family consists of three proteins: WEE1, PKMYT1, and the less important WEE1B. WEE1 exclusively mediates phosphorylation at Tyr15, whereas PKMYT1 is dual-specific for Tyr15 as well as Thr14. Inhibition by a small molecule inhibitor is therefore proposed to be a promising option since WEE kinases bind Cdk1, altering equilibria and thus affecting G2/M transition.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Animals / Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology / Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use / Cell cycle / Cell Cycle Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors / Cell Cycle Proteins - chemistry / Cell Cycle Proteins - genetics / Cell Cycle Proteins - metabolism / Enzyme Activation - drug effects / G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints - drug effects / G2/M transition / Humans / Kinases / Membrane Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors / Membrane Proteins - chemistry / Membrane Proteins - genetics / Membrane Proteins - metabolism / Molecular Targeted Therapy / Multigene Family / Neoplasms - drug therapy / Neoplasms - genetics / Neoplasms - metabolism / Nuclear Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors / Nuclear Proteins - chemistry / Nuclear Proteins - genetics / Nuclear Proteins - metabolism / PKMYT1 / Protein Kinase Inhibitors - pharmacology / Protein Kinase Inhibitors - therapeutic use / Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors / Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases - chemistry / Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases - genetics / Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism / Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors / Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - chemistry / Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - genetics / Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - metabolism / Review / Structure-Activity Relationship / WEE1