411 REFERENCE · Wikibooks
Radiation Oncology/Radiobiology/Cell Cycle
Reference material by Wikibooks contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
Cell Cycle
Overview
Decision to proliferate and enter cell cycle highly regulated process
Binding of extrinsic growth factors typically necessary
mTOR integrates input from growth factor receptors, cellular nutrient and energy levels, and redox status to stimulate new protein synthesis in preparation for cell cycle entry via S6K to regulate translational machinery and eIF4E to regulate cyclin D
Regulation of cell cycle through complex of cyclins with cyclin-dependent kinases (cdk)
cdk levels constant throughout cell cycle
cdk activity regulated by concentration of cyclins, cdk phosphorylation, and cdk inhibition
Cyclin concentrations are cyclical
Progression is unidirectional from G1 -> S -> G2 -> M
Cell cycle checkpoints
Prevent or delay progression through cell cycle when critical events have not been completed
Provide time for DNA repair
4 main checkpoints (please see DNA damage response for information about effect of RT on the checkpoints
G1 (stop)
S (slow)
Early G2 (stop)
Late G2/M (stop)
G1 Phase
Preparation for synthesis: Is cell big enough, is environment favorable, is DNA undamaged?
G1 checkpoint is integrated at p53. Please see DNA damage response for more information
If there is a G1 arrest, p53 increases levels of p21, which inhibits cyclinD-cdk4/6 complex
If there is no arrest (low p53 levels), the cyclinD-CDK4/6 complex becomes active, and phosphorylates Rb protein
Rb protein is normally associated with E2F, but upon phosphorylation dissociates from it
E2F is a DNA transcription factor, which triggers entry into S phase
Cyclin D and E2F levels are promoted by myc and by eIF4E
S Phase
CDK2 kinase plays a major role in maintaining the pace of S-phase; it is a transcription target of E2F
S phase checkpoint serves to insure that there is no replication through DNA damage that could result in double strand DNA break
S phase checkpoint is triggered by DNA damage -> ATM -> Chk2 -> CDC25A -> CDK2 phosphorylation
If there is an S phase arrest, CDC45 fails to load onto DNA, and DNA replication halts
If there is no arrest, CDK2 remains dephosphorylated and CDC45 begins DNA replication
CyclinD/CDK2 also inhibits p27kip1, which promotes expression of Cyclin A and progression through S-phase
CyclinA/CDK2 plays a key role in duplication of centromeres
G2 Phase
CyclinB/CDK1 kinase is called the Maturation-Promoting Factor (MPF), and promotes entry into mitosis by phosphorylating multiple proteins. The complex also includes Cyclin A and CDC 20
G2/M checkpoint is triggered by DNA damage -> ATR -> Chk1 -> CDC25C -> CDK1 phosphorylation
Prior to mitosis, cyclin B is primarily located in the cytoplasm. When the cell is ready, Cyclin B is phosphorylated, which results in its accumulation in the nucleus
At the same time, CDK1 must be dephosphorylated to trigger mitosis
Targets of MPF complex include:
condensins, which enable chromatin condensation
microtubule-associated proteins involved in mitotic spindle formation
lamins, contributing to degradation of the nuclear envelope
histones H1 and H3
Golgi matrix, which leads to fragmentation
Dephosphorylation of Rb protein, prior to start G1 of the next cycle
There are two distinct G2/M checkpoints (11809797)
A very rapid, dose-independent, ATM-dependent arrest of cells that were in G2 at the time of irradiation (and consequent failure to enter mitosis), which can be assayed using flow cytometry against phosphorylated histone H3 (a marker of mitosis)
A slower, dose-dependent, ATM-independent accumulation in G2 of cells which were in earlier stages of the cell cycle at the time of irradiation, which can be assayed using standard propidium iodide flow cytometry
Please see the cell cycle checkpoints for further information
Viral cell cycle promoters
These block Rb, which leads to dissociation of E2F and cell entry into S phase
SV40 T Antigen
Adenovirus E1A
HPV E7
Cell cycle inhibitors
Block cyclins to prevent entry into next cell cycle phase. They act primarily in G1 to stop progression into S
Kip inhibitors:
p21WAF1/CIP1 blocks cyclin D
p27KIP1 blocks cyclin D & E
p57KIP2 blocks cyclin E & A, and to lesser degree mitotic cyclin B
INK inhibitors:
p16Ink4a, p15Ink4b, p18Ink4c, p19Ink4d
Structurally related, they destabilize association of cyclin D with CDK4/6
p21 and p16 increase in senescence and contribute to G1 arrest
Myc
DNA transcription factor
Multiple actions to promote entry of cells into S phase
Cyclin D transcription -> Rb phosphorylation -> E2F activity
SCF gene transcription -> KIP family (p21, p27, p57) inhibitor degradation
E2F transcription
Ras
Activation of ras triggers two major pathways related to entry into cell cycle:
Ras -> Raf -> MEK -> MAPK -> transcription of cyclin D and block of p27 inhibitor
Ras -> PI3K -> PKB -> stabilization of cyclin D and block of p21 inhibitor