Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 25, 2025

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

11.7K

Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 inhibitors in cancer therapy

Minmin Wang1, Tianyu Wang1, Xiangyu Zhang1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines & Development of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.

Future Medicinal Chemistry
|March 27, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) is vital for cell cycle and transcription, making it a key target for cancer therapy. New selective CDK7 inhibitors show promise for cancer treatment, with ongoing research into their development and application.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) is integral to cell cycle progression and transcriptional regulation.
  • Dysregulation of CDK7 is implicated in cancer development and metastasis.
  • Recent advances include the development of specific covalent CDK7 inhibitors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the latest biological studies on CDK7.
  • To summarize the development of CDK7 inhibitors in preclinical and clinical settings.
  • To discuss the future prospects and challenges in CDK7 inhibitor research.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of biological studies on CDK7.
  • Analysis of preclinical and clinical evaluations of CDK7 inhibitors.
  • Synthesis of current research trends and future directions.

Main Results:

  • CDK7's critical roles in cell cycle and transcription are confirmed.
  • Selective CDK7 inhibitors are emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy.
  • Ongoing research is evaluating their efficacy and safety in cancer treatment.

Conclusions:

  • CDK7 represents an attractive and validated target for anticancer drug development.
  • The development of selective CDK7 inhibitors is a rapidly advancing field.
  • Further research is essential to overcome challenges and realize the full therapeutic potential of CDK7 inhibitors in oncology.
Keywords:
CDK7CDK7 inhibitorscancercell cycletranscription

More Related Videos

Identification of Cyclin-dependent Kinase 1 Specific Phosphorylation Sites by an In Vitro Kinase Assay12:26

Identification of Cyclin-dependent Kinase 1 Specific Phosphorylation Sites by an In Vitro Kinase Assay

Published on: May 3, 2018

19.2K
A Method for Screening and Validation of Resistant Mutations Against Kinase Inhibitors12:40

A Method for Screening and Validation of Resistant Mutations Against Kinase Inhibitors

Published on: December 7, 2014

15.1K

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...
5.5K
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...
6.2K
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.
6.4K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
8.6K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.5K
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
7.6K