Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, U.S.A.
Biochem Soc Trans. 2022 Jun 30;50(3):1081-1090. doi: 10.1042/BST20211131.
Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) sensors have facilitated investigations of the cell cycle in living cells. These genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors change their subcellular location upon activation of CDKs. Activation is primarily regulated by their association with cyclins, which in turn trigger cell-cycle progression. In the absence of CDK activity, cells exit the cell cycle and become quiescent, a key step in stem cell maintenance and cancer cell dormancy. The evolutionary conservation of CDKs has allowed for the rapid development of CDK activity sensors for cell lines and several research organisms, including nematodes, fish, and flies. CDK activity sensors are utilized for their ability to visualize the exact moment of cell-cycle commitment. This has provided a breakthrough in understanding the proliferation-quiescence decision. Further adoption of these biosensors will usher in new discoveries focused on the cell-cycle regulation of development, ageing, and cancer.
细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶（CDK）传感器促进了活细胞中细胞周期的研究。这些基因编码的荧光生物传感器在 CDK 激活时改变其亚细胞位置。激活主要受其与细胞周期蛋白的结合调节，细胞周期蛋白反过来触发细胞周期进程。在没有 CDK 活性的情况下，细胞退出细胞周期并进入静止状态，这是干细胞维持和癌细胞休眠的关键步骤。CDK 的进化保守性使得能够快速开发用于细胞系和几种研究生物的 CDK 活性传感器，包括线虫、鱼类和苍蝇。CDK 活性传感器因其能够可视化细胞周期承诺的确切时刻而被利用。这为理解增殖-静止决策提供了突破。进一步采用这些生物传感器将迎来新的发现，重点关注发育、衰老和癌症的细胞周期调控。
