Oncogenic Functions of cdK4 and cdK6

摘要

The purpose of the research presented here is to investigate the pathways by which cdk4 and cdk6 stimulate unregulated cell division in cancer cells and the mechanism by which these kinases are differentially activated. Numerous reports have shown that increased expression and protein levels of cdk4 and cyclin D proteins are found in breast cancer, but cdk6 is preferentially activated in oral epithelial cancers. Results summarized here recapitulate these differences in cell culture systems, suggest novel mechanisms of regulation of cdk4 and cdk6 and further Support functional differences between these two kinases. A novel method for identifying proteins that differentially interact with the two kinases is also described and studies on several new interactors provide insight into specific potential regulators and substrates of these cdks.