Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 11, 2025

Fluorescence-based Monitoring of PAD4 Activity via a Pro-fluorescence Substrate Analog
08:37

Fluorescence-based Monitoring of PAD4 Activity via a Pro-fluorescence Substrate Analog

Published on: November 5, 2014

10.1K

Polo-Like Kinase 4's Critical Role in Cancer Development and Strategies for Plk4-Targeted Therapy

Xiaoyang Zhang1, Cheng Wei1, Hao Liang1

  • 1Tianjin Neurological Institute, Key Laboratory of Post-Neuroinjury Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Frontiers in Oncology
|March 29, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Polo-like kinase 4 (Plk4) regulates centriole replication and is linked to cancer. This review details Plk4 structure, regulation, targets, and its role in cancer, exploring Plk4 inhibitors for therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Polo-like kinases (Plks) are crucial for cell cycle regulation.
  • Plk4 is a key regulator of centriole duplication.
  • Aberrant Plk4 expression is implicated in cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the structure and molecular regulation of Plk4.
  • To identify Plk4's downstream targets and associated cancer hallmarks.
  • To summarize Plk4's role in various cancers and discuss therapeutic inhibitors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of Plk4 structure, function, and regulation.
  • Analysis of Plk4's downstream targets and cancer associations.
  • Compilation of data on Plk4 inhibitors and their therapeutic potential.

Main Results:

  • Detailed depiction of Plk4 DNA, mRNA, and protein structure.
  • Identification of Plk4's regulatory mechanisms and downstream targets.
  • Summary of Plk4's involvement in diverse cancers and current inhibitor strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Plk4 is a critical regulator of centriole replication with significant roles in cancer.
  • Understanding Plk4's molecular biology is key to developing targeted cancer therapies.
  • Plk4 shows promise as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
Keywords:
PLK4cancer developmentcentrosome amplificationinhibitorspolo-like kinases family

More Related Videos

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer06:51

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer

Published on: July 21, 2018

18.3K
Identification of Novel CK2 Kinase Substrates Using a Versatile Biochemical Approach11:11

Identification of Novel CK2 Kinase Substrates Using a Versatile Biochemical Approach

Published on: February 21, 2019

7.6K

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...
5.2K
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...
8.1K
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...
5.9K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
5.6K
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a...
4.5K
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...
4.0K