Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Studying Proteolysis of Cyclin B at the Single Cell Level in Whole Cell Populations
Published on: September 17, 2012
PEST regions, proteolysis and cell cycle progression
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132.
Abstract:
How eucaryotic cells control cell division is both a major intellectual challenge and a problem of considerable medical importance. A decade of studies on oncogenes has made it abundantly clear that protein kinases play a central role in regulating mitosis. In this essay, I review a number of recent discoveries providing evidence that selective proteolysis, like phosphorylation, is an important mechanism for ordering metabolic events within the cell cycle.
Insights
Eukaryotic cell division is regulated by protein kinases and selective proteolysis. These processes, similar to phosphorylation, are crucial for ordering cell cycle events and have significant medical implications.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Eukaryotic cell division is a complex process with significant medical implications.
- Protein kinases are known to play a central role in regulating mitosis, as indicated by a decade of oncogene research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent discoveries on cell cycle regulation.
- To highlight the role of selective proteolysis in ordering cell cycle events.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature and discoveries.
- Analysis of evidence linking selective proteolysis to cell cycle progression.
Main Results:
- Selective proteolysis, akin to phosphorylation, is emerging as a key mechanism in cell cycle control.
- Evidence suggests proteolysis is vital for ordering metabolic events during the cell cycle.
Conclusions:
- Both phosphorylation and selective proteolysis are critical regulatory mechanisms in eukaryotic cell division.
- Understanding these pathways is essential for addressing medical challenges related to cell cycle dysregulation.
Related Concept Videos
Negative Regulator Molecules
The Proteasome
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. A series of enzymes carry out the ubiquitination of the target proteins - E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3...
Regulated Protein Degradation
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
Anaphase Promoting Complex
The Proteasome
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. This involves participation of a series of enzymes including— E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3 (ubiquitin...
The Cell Cycle Control System
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...

