Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 also known as cell division protein kinase 2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the CDK2 gene.[1][2]
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The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the cyclin-dependent kinase family of Ser/Thr protein kinases. This protein kinase is highly similar to the gene products of S. cerevisiae cdc28, and S. pombe cdc2, also known as Cdk1 in humans. It is a catalytic subunit of the cyclin-dependent kinase complex, whose activity is restricted to the G1-S phase of the cell cycle, and is essential for the G1/S transition. This protein associates with and is regulated by the regulatory subunits of the complex including cyclin E or A. Cyclin E binds G1 phase Cdk2, which is required for the transition from G1 to S phase while binding with Cyclin A is required to progress through the S phase. Its activity is also regulated by phosphorylation. Two alternatively spliced variants and multiple transcription initiation sites of this gene have been reported.[2]
The role of this protein in G1-S transition has been recently questioned as cells lacking Cdk2 are reported to have no problem during this transition.[3]
Known CDK inhibitors are p21Cip1 (CDKN1A) and p27Kip1 (CDKN1B).[4] Drugs that inhibit Cdk2 and arrest the cell cycle, such as GW8510, may reduce the sensitivity of the epithelium to many cell cycle-active antitumor agents and, therefore, represent a strategy for prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia.[5]
In melanocytic cell types, expression of the CDK2 gene is regulated by the Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor.[6][7]
Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 has been shown to interact with Retinoblastoma-like protein 2,[8][9] Retinoblastoma-like protein 1,[8][10] Flap structure-specific endonuclease 1,[11] CEBPA,[12] BRCA1,[13][14][15] PPM1B,[16] Cyclin A1,[17][18][19][20] Cyclin E1,[8][21][22][23][24][25] SKP2,[26][27][28] PPP2CA,[16] ORC1L,[29] CDK2AP1,[30] CDKN3,[31][32][33] CDKN1B[24][26][34][35][36] and P21.[21][28][33][36][37]
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