Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Development of Inhibitors of Protein-protein Interactions through REPLACE: Application to the Design and Development Non-ATP Competitive CDK Inhibitors
10:33

Development of Inhibitors of Protein-protein Interactions through REPLACE: Application to the Design and Development Non-ATP Competitive CDK Inhibitors

Published on: October 26, 2015

Targeting the cell division cycle in cancer: CDK and cell cycle checkpoint kinase inhibitors

Ian Collins1, Michelle D Garrett

  • 1Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics at The Institute of Cancer Research, 15 Cotswold Road, Sutton SM2 5NG, UK.

Current Opinion in Pharmacology
|June 21, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are key regulators of cell division and cancer targets. Inhibiting cell cycle checkpoint kinases CHK1 and CHK2 may induce death in cancer cells with existing cell cycle defects.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) regulate cell division.
  • CDK deregulation is common in cancer, making them therapeutic targets.
  • Cell cycle checkpoints, like those involving CHK1 and CHK2, monitor DNA integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the therapeutic potential of inhibiting cell cycle checkpoint kinases.
  • To investigate targeting CHK1 and CHK2 in cancer cells with defective cell cycle checkpoints.

Main Methods:

  • Review of CDK and cell cycle checkpoint kinase functions.
  • Analysis of cancer cell biology and therapeutic strategies.

Main Results:

  • CDK inhibitors are developed as cancer therapeutics.
  • Defective cell cycle checkpoints in cancer suggest targeting CHK1/CHK2 as a strategy.
  • Inhibition of CHK1 and CHK2 may lead to cancer cell death.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting cell cycle regulatory pathways, including CDKs and checkpoint kinases, is a promising area in cancer therapy.
  • Exploiting existing cancer cell vulnerabilities, such as defective checkpoints, by inhibiting CHK1 and CHK2 could be an effective treatment approach.

More Related Videos

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics06:00

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics

Published on: May 14, 2016

Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols12:02

Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols

Published on: June 6, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Inhibition of CDK Activity02:34

Inhibition of CDK Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis02:15

M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis

Checkpoints throughout the cell cycle serve as safeguards and gatekeepers, allowing the cell cycle to progress in favorable conditions and slow or halt it in problematic ones. This regulation is known as the cell cycle control system.
Cyclin-dependent kinases, or Cdks, work in concert with cyclins to control cell cycle transitions. M-Cdk, a complex of Cdk1 bound to M cyclin, is a well-known example of this coordinated control that drives the transition from the G2 to the M phase.
M cyclin...
M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis02:15

M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis

Checkpoints throughout the cell cycle serve as safeguards and gatekeepers, allowing the cell cycle to progress in favorable conditions and slow or halt it in problematic ones. This regulation is known as the cell cycle control system.
Cyclin-dependent kinases, or Cdks, work in concert with cyclins to control cell cycle transitions. M-Cdk, a complex of Cdk1 bound to M cyclin, is a well-known example of this coordinated control that drives the transition from the G2 to the M phase.
M cyclin...
Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division01:27

Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division

Several external and internal factors influence the initiation and inhibition of cell division. For instance, the death of nearby cells or the release of human growth hormone (hGH) promotes cell division. In contrast, lack of hGH or crowding of cells can inhibit cell division.
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...
Positive Regulator Molecules02:39

Positive Regulator Molecules

Mitotic cell division results in daughter cells that exactly resemble the parent cell. However, errors in the DNA replication or distribution of genetic material may lead to genetic mutations that may be passed down to every new cell formed from the resulting abnormal cell. Propagation of such mutant cells is restricted through checkpoint mechanisms present at different stages of the cell cycle. These checkpoints involve regulator molecules that either promote or demote cell cycle events.