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J Y Thuret

Publications and source records attributed to J Y Thuret.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Specificity of Cdk activation in vivo by the two Caks Mcs6 and Csk1 in fission yeast.

Activating phosphorylation of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) is mediated by at least two structurally distinct types of Cdk-activating kinases (Caks): the trimeric Cdk7-cyclin H-Mat1 complex in metazoans and the single-subunit Cak1 in budding yeast. Fission yeast has both Cak types: Mcs6 is a Cdk7 ortholog and Csk1 a single-subunit kinase. Both phosphorylate Cdks in vitro and rescue a thermosensitive budding yeast CAK1 strain. However, this apparent redundancy is not observed in fission yeast in vivo. We have identified mutants that exhibit phenotypes attributable to defects in either Mcs6-activating phosphorylation or in Cdc2-activating phosphorylation. Mcs6, human Cdk7 and budding yeast Cak1 were all active as Caks for Cdc2 when expressed in fission yeast. Although Csk1 could activate Mcs6, it was unable to activate Cdc2. Biochemical experiments supported these genetic results: budding yeast Cak1 could bind and phosphorylate Cdc2 from fission yeast lysates, whereas fission yeast Csk1 could not. These results indicate that Mcs6 is the direct activator of Cdc2, and Csk1 only activates Mcs6. This demonstrates in vivo specificity in Cdk activation by Caks.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Human CDK10 gene isoforms.

The CDK10/PISSLRE gene has been shown to encode two different CDK-like putative kinases. The function(s) of the gene products are unknown, although a role at the G2/M transition has been suggested. We characterised two novel cDNAs. CDK10 mRNA quantity was not found to be correlated with cell proliferation status in HeLa or WI38 cell cultures or in human tissues. Relative levels of the four CDK10 isoforms were studied by RT-PCR, of which three were principally expressed. The two initially cloned isoforms predominated in human tissues, except in brain and muscle. Relative isoform levels did not vary during the cell cycle in culture, except when cells entered into the cell cycle. Finally, the predominant isoforms were shown to have different translation initiation sites and to have different subcellular distribution, due to an alternatively spliced nuclear localisation signal.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Civ1 (CAK in vivo), a novel Cdk-activating kinase.

Cyclin-dependent protein kinases (Cdks) play key roles in regulating cell division and gene expression. Most Cdks require binding of a cyclin and phosphorylation by a Cdk-activating kinase (CAK) to be active. We report the identification of Civ1 (CAK in vivo), a novel CAK activity in S. cerevisiae. Civ1 is most similar in sequence to the Cdks, but unlike them is active as a monomer and may thus be the founding member of a novel family of kinases. Civ1 binds tightly to and phosphorylates Cdc28, thereby allowing its subsequent activation by the binding of a cyclin. The CIV1 gene is essential for yeast cell viability, and Cdc28 phosphorylation and activity are conditionally inhibited in a civ1-4 temperature-sensitive mutant. Civ1 is the only CAK for which there are genetic data indicating that its activity is physiologically relevant in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗