Absence Of Cyclin Research Articles

Crystal structure of the CDK11 kinase domain bound to the small-molecule inhibitor OTS964

CDK11 is a cyclin-dependent kinase that controls proliferation by regulating transcription, RNA splicing, and the cell cycle. As its activity is increasingly associated with cancer, CDK11 is an attractive target for the development of small-molecule inhibitors. However, the development of CDK11 inhibitors with limited off-target effects against other CDKs poses a challenge based on the high conservation of sequence across family members. OTS964 is notable as it displays a measure of specificity for CDK11 in cells. To understand the basis for OTS964's specificity for CDK11, we solved a 2.6Å crystal structure of the CDK11 kinase domain bound to OTS964. Despite the absence of cyclin, CDK11 adopts an active-like conformation when bound to OTS964. We identified amino acids likely to contribute to the specificity of OTS964 for CDK11 and assessed their contribution to OTS964 binding by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) invitro and by resistance to OTS964 in cells.

Uncoupling of Mitosis and Cytokinesis Upon a Prolonged Arrest in Metaphase Is Influenced by Protein Phosphatases and Mitotic Transcription in Fission Yeast.

Depletion of the Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) activator Cdc20 arrests cells in metaphase with high levels of the mitotic cyclin (Cyclin B) and the Separase inhibitor Securin. In mammalian cells this arrest has been exploited for the treatment of cancer with drugs that engage the spindle assembly checkpoint and, recently, with chemical inhibitors of the APC/C. While most cells arrested in mitosis for prolonged periods undergo apoptosis, others skip cytokinesis and enter G1 with unsegregated chromosomes. This process, known as mitotic slippage, generates aneuploidy and increases genomic instability in the cancer cell. Here, we analyze the behavior of fission yeast cells arrested in mitosis through the transcriptional silencing of the Cdc20 homolog slp1. While depletion of slp1 readily halts cells in metaphase, this arrest is only transient and a majority of cells eventually undergo cytokinesis and show steady mitotic dephosphorylation. Notably, this occurs in the absence of Cyclin B (Cdc13) degradation. We investigate the involvement of phosphatase activity in these events and demonstrate that PP2A-B55Pab1 is required to prevent septation and, during the arrest, its CDK-mediated inhibition facilitates the induction of cytokinesis. In contrast, deletion of PP2A-B56Par1 completely abrogates septation. We show that this effect is partly due to this mutant entering mitosis with reduced CDK activity. Interestingly, both PP2A-B55Pab1 and PP2A-B56Par1, as well as Clp1 (the homolog of the budding yeast mitotic phosphatase Cdc14) are required for the dephosphorylation of mitotic substrates during the escape. Finally, we show that the mitotic transcriptional wave controlled by the RFX transcription factor Sak1 facilitates the induction of cytokinesis and also requires the activity of PP2A-B56Par1 in a mechanism independent of CDK.

Abstract P051: Identification of an orally bioavailable dual Cyclin K glue degrader - CDK12/13 inhibitor

Abstract CDK12 and CDK13 regulate gene expression through translation and splicing of mRNA. Impaired activity of CDK12 has been shown to reduce the expression of a range of genes involved in DNA homologous repair leading to the induction of a ‘BRCAness’ phenotype in cells. CDK12 inhibitors have the potential in many different indications, including overcoming emergent resistance to PARP inhibition, enhancing the efficacy of PARP inhibition in patients with BRCA1/2 wt status [1] and extending the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibition through immunogenic cell death [2]. Recently, certain classes of CDK12 inhibitors have also demonstrated ‘glue degrader’ properties [1]: causing proteosomal degradation of the obligate co-factor for CDK12 and 13, Cyclin K. Such glue-degraders have the capability of enhancing cellular potency and specificity over classical kinase inhibitors. Taking as a starting point the selective CDK7 inhibitor samuraciclib, we have taken a rational design approach to develop inhibitors that preferentially inhibit CDK12. By utilising differences in the active site between CDK7 and CDK12 we were able to increase potency against CDK12 in biochemical assays by > 100 fold, with no significant inhibition of kinases outside the CDK class. Cellular potency of these molecules was evaluated in the Ewing’s sarcoma cell line A673, which is known to be sensitive to CDK12 inhibition [4]. Remarkably the potency of the molecules to induce cell death was greater than their biochemical potency against CDK12 by > 10 fold. Analysis of Cyclin K levels in cells demonstrated that the molecules lead to Cyclin K degradation. Furthermore, cellular potency was reduced by the presence of the neddylation inhibitor MLN4924 confirming that the compounds enhanced potency was mediated by glue degradation of Cyclin K. The molecules were found to cause potent inhibition of DNA homologous repair genes including BRCA1, FANCF and ERCC4 and lead to the accumulation of DNA strand breaks as assessed by the marker γ-H2AX. In the BRCA wt ovarian cancer cell line, OV-90, strong synergy was observed in the ability to induce cell death with a range of PARP inhibitors. In A673 tumour bearing mice, dosing with the compounds was found to cause significant reduction in the levels of cyclin K in tumours, which was sustained for 24 hr. Additionally, assessment of CDK12 protein in these tumours also showed a reduction, suggesting greater turnover of CDK12 protein in the absence of Cyclin K. Repeat dose studies at doses that lead to Cyclin K degradation in tumours demonstrated that the compounds were well tolerated, with no weight loss in mice. Two molecules, CT7439 and CT7510, were found to have oral bioavailability in mice that indicate that they would be suitable for once-daily oral administration in humans and are being progressed through regulatory toxicity studies. [1] Johnson, et al, (2016) Cell Rep. 17, 2367 [2] Li, et al, (2020) Cancer Lett. 495, 12 [3] Słabicki, et al, (2020) Nature 585, 293 [4] Iniguez, et al, (2018) Cancer Cell 33, 202 Citation Format: Edward K. Ainscow, Adrian Campbell, Michael Cripps, Robert Workman, Stuart Thomson, Kam Chohan, Damien Crepin, Mahiro Sunose, Jamie Patient, Jane Kendrew, Ash Bahl. Identification of an orally bioavailable dual Cyclin K glue degrader - CDK12/13 inhibitor [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2021 Oct 7-10. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2021;20(12 Suppl):Abstract nr P051.

Mitotic timing is differentially controlled by A- and B-type cyclins and by CDC6 associated with a bona fide CDK inhibitor Xic1 in Xenopus laevis cell-free extract.

The timing of the M-phase is precisely controlled by a CDC6-dependent mechanism inhibiting the mitotic histone H1 kinase. Here, we describe the differential regulation of the dynamics of this mitotic kinase activity by exogenous cyclin A or cyclin B in the Xenopus laevis cycling extracts. We show that the experimental increase in cyclin A modifies only the level of histone H1 kinase activity, while the cyclin B increase modifies two parameters: histone H1 kinase activity and the timing of its full activation, which is accelerated. On the other hand, the cyclin A depletion significantly delays full activation of histone H1 kinase. However, when CDC6 is added to such an extract, it inhibits cyclin B-associated histone H1 kinase, but does not modify the mitotic timing in the absence of cyclin A. Further, we show via p9 co-precipitation with Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (CDKs), that both CDC6 and the bona fide CDK1 inhibitor Xic1 associate with the mitotic CDKs. Finally, we show that the Xic1 temporarily separates from the mitotic CDKs complexes during the peak of histone H1 kinase activity. These data show the differential coordination of the M-phase progression by cyclin A- and cyclin B-dependent CDKs, confirm the critical role of the CDC6-dependent histone H1 kinase inhibition in this process, and show that CDC6 acts differentially through the cyclin B- and cyclin A-associated CDKs. This CDC6- and cyclins-dependent mechanism likely depends on the precisely regulated association of Xic1 with the mitotic CDKs complexes. We postulate that: i. the dissociation of Xic1 from the CDKs complexes allows the maximal activation of CDK1 during the M-phase, ii. the switch between cyclin A- and cyclin B-CDK inhibition upon M-phase initiation may be responsible for the diauxic growth of mitotic histone H1 kinase activity.

Identification of the critical replication targets of CDK reveals direct regulation of replication initiation factors by the embryo polarity machinery in C. elegans

During metazoan development, the cell cycle is remodelled to coordinate proliferation with differentiation. Developmental cues cause dramatic changes in the number and timing of replication initiation events, but the mechanisms and physiological importance of such changes are poorly understood. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are important for regulating S-phase length in many metazoa, and here we show in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that an essential function of CDKs during early embryogenesis is to regulate the interactions between three replication initiation factors SLD-3, SLD-2 and MUS-101 (Dpb11/TopBP1). Mutations that bypass the requirement for CDKs to generate interactions between these factors is partly sufficient for viability in the absence of Cyclin E, demonstrating that this is a critical embryonic function of this Cyclin. Both SLD-2 and SLD-3 are asymmetrically localised in the early embryo and the levels of these proteins inversely correlate with S-phase length. We also show that SLD-2 asymmetry is determined by direct interaction with the polarity protein PKC-3. This study explains an essential function of CDKs for replication initiation in a metazoan and provides the first direct molecular mechanism through which polarization of the embryo is coordinated with DNA replication initiation factors.

RSK-MASTL Pathway Delays Meiotic Exit in Mouse Zygotes to Ensure Paternal Chromosome Stability

During vertebrate fertilization, sperm chromatin remodeling occurs concomitantly with maternal chromosome segregation at anaphase II, leading to simultaneous formation of two pronuclei. In mammals, these processes take much longer than in other vertebrates. Here, we explore the molecular basis and physiological importance of this mammalian-specific temporal regulation using mouse oocytes. We demonstrate the involvement of protein phosphatase in temporal regulation. Early onset of pronuclear formation causes paternal-biased abnormalities in pronuclear morphology and chromosome segregation at the first mitosis. After oocyte activation, CDK1-MASTL-ENSA, a protein phosphatase 2A-suppressive pathway, remains active despite the absence of cyclin B and contributes to delayed pronuclear formation. Sustained activation of MASTL involves ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK)-mediated phosphorylation of Thr297, which is conserved only among mammalian MASTLs. Our findings reveal the role of RSK in mouse oocytes, showing that the RSK-MASTL pathway allows mammalian-specific prolonged meiotic exit and ensures the faithful conversion from sperm to paternal pronuclei.

Highlights from Recent Cancer Literature

Highlights from Recent Cancer Literature

Profiling of p5, a 24 Amino Acid Inhibitory Peptide Derived from the CDK5 Activator, p35 CDKR1 Against 70 Protein Kinases.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) is a multifunctional serine/threonine kinase that regulates a large number of neuronal processes essential for nervous system development and function with its activator p35 CDK5R1. Upon neuronal insults, p35 is proteolyzed and cleaved to p25 producing deregulation and hyperactivation of CDK5 (CDK5/p25), implicated in tau hyperphosphorylation, a pathology in some neurodegenerative diseases. A truncated, 24 amino acid peptide, p5, derived from p35 inhibits the deregulated CDK5 phosphotransferase activity and ameliorates Alzheimer's disease (AD) phenotypes in AD model mice. In the present study, we have screened a diverse panel of 70 human protein kinases for their sensitivities to p5, and a subset of these to p35. At least 16 of the tested protein kinases exhibited IC50 values that were 250 μM or less, with CAMK4, ZAP70, SGK1, and PIM1 showing greater sensitivity to inhibition by p5 than CDK5/p35 and CDK5/p25. In contrast, the p5 peptide modestly activated LKB1 and GSK3β. A sub set of kinases screened against p35 showed that activity of CAMK4 in the absence of calcium and calmodulin was also markedly inhibited by p35. The Cyclin Y-dependent kinases PFTK1 (CDK14) and PCTK1 (CDK16) were activated by p35 at least 10-fold in the absence of Cyclin Y and by approximately 50% in its presence. These findings provide additional insights into the mechanisms of action for p5 and p35 in the regulation of protein phosphorylation in the nervous system.

SCF(Cyclin F)-dependent degradation of CDC6 suppresses DNA re-replication.

Maintenance of genome stability requires that DNA is replicated precisely once per cell cycle. This is believed to be achieved by limiting replication origin licensing and thereby restricting the firing of each replication origin to once per cell cycle. CDC6 is essential for eukaryotic replication origin licensing, however, it is poorly understood how CDC6 activity is constrained in higher eukaryotes. Here we report that the SCFCyclin F ubiquitin ligase complex prevents DNA re-replication by targeting CDC6 for proteasomal degradation late in the cell cycle. We show that CDC6 and Cyclin F interact through defined sequence motifs that promote CDC6 ubiquitylation and degradation. Absence of Cyclin F or expression of a stable mutant of CDC6 promotes re-replication and genome instability in cells lacking the CDT1 inhibitor Geminin. Together, our work reveals a novel SCFCyclin F-mediated mechanism required for precise once per cell cycle replication.

Cyclin E/Cdk2-dependent phosphorylation of Mcl-1 determines its stability and cellular sensitivity to BH3 mimetics.

Cyclin E/Cdk2 kinase activity is frequently deregulated in human cancers, resulting in impaired apoptosis. Here, we show that cyclin E/Cdk2 phosphorylates and stabilizes the pro-survival Bcl-2 family protein Mcl-1, a key cell death resistance determinant to the small molecule Bcl-2 family inhibitors ABT-199 and ABT-737, mimetics of the Bcl-2 homology domain 3 (BH3). Cyclin E levels were elevated and there was increased association of cyclin E/Cdk2 with Mcl-1 in ABT-737-resistant compared to parental cells. Cyclin E depletion in various human tumor cell-lines and cyclin E-/- mouse embryo fibroblasts showed decreased levels of Mcl-1 protein, with no change in Mcl-1 mRNA levels. In the absence of cyclin E, Mcl-1 ubiquitination was enhanced, leading to decreased protein stability. Studies with Mcl-1 phosphorylation mutants show that cyclin E/Cdk2-dependent phosphorylation of Mcl-1 residues on its PEST domain resulted in increased Mcl-1 stability (Thr92, and Thr163) and Bim binding (Ser64). Cyclin E knock-down restored ABT-737 sensitivity to acquired and inherently resistant Mcl-1-dependent tumor cells. CDK inhibition by dinaciclib resulted in Bim release from Mcl-1 in ABT-737-resistant cells. Dinaciclib in combination with ABT-737 and ABT-199 resulted in robust synergistic cell death in leukemic cells and primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient samples. Collectively, our findings identify a novel mechanism of cyclin E-mediated Mcl-1 regulation that provides a rationale for clinical use of Bcl-2 family and Cdk inhibitors for Mcl-1-dependent tumors.

Dynamic loading and redistribution of the Mcm2-7 helicase complex through the cell cycle.

Eukaryotic replication origins are defined by the ORC-dependent loading of the Mcm2-7 helicase complex onto chromatin in G1. Paradoxically, there is a vast excess of Mcm2-7 relative to ORC assembled onto chromatin in G1. These excess Mcm2-7 complexes exhibit little co-localization with ORC or replication foci and can function as dormant origins. We dissected the mechanisms regulating the assembly and distribution of the Mcm2-7 complex in the Drosophila genome. We found that in the absence of cyclin E/Cdk2 activity, there was a 10-fold decrease in chromatin-associated Mcm2-7 relative to the levels found at the G1/S transition. The minimal amounts of Mcm2-7 loaded in the absence of cyclin E/Cdk2 activity were strictly localized to ORC binding sites. In contrast, cyclin E/Cdk2 activity was required for maximal loading of Mcm2-7 and a dramatic genome-wide reorganization of the distribution of Mcm2-7 that is shaped by active transcription. Thus, increasing cyclin E/Cdk2 activity over the course of G1 is not only critical for Mcm2-7 loading, but also for the distribution of the Mcm2-7 helicase prior to S-phase entry.

Cdc25A activity is required for the metaphase II arrest in mouse oocytes

Mammalian oocytes are arrested in metaphase of second meiosis (MII) until fertilization. This arrest is enforced by the cytostatic factor (CSF), which maintains the M-phase promoting factor (MPF) in a highly active state. Although the continuous synthesis and degradation of cyclin B to maintain the CSF-mediated MII arrest is well established, it is unknown whether cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) phosphorylations are involved in this arrest in mouse oocytes. Here, we show that a dynamic equilibrium of Cdk1 phosphorylation is required to maintain MII arrest. When the Cdc25A phosphatase is downregulated, mouse oocytes are released from MII arrest and MPF becomes inactivated. This inactivation occurs in the absence of cyclin B degradation and is dependent on Wee1B-mediated phosphorylation of Cdk1. Thus, our data demonstrate that Cdk1 activity is maintained during MII arrest not only by cyclin turnover but also by steady state phosphorylation.

Label-free colorimetric and quantitative detection of cancer marker protein using noncrosslinking aggregation of Au/Ag nanoparticles induced by target-specific peptide probe

Assays for non-enzyme protein based on peptide–protein interaction are few due to the fact that most of peptide–protein bindings do not produce easily measurable output signals. Here we report a homogenous assay for colorimetric and quantitative detection of a cancer marker and promising antitumor target, cyclin A 2, using noncrosslinking aggregation of unmodified AuNPs/AgNPs by utilizing the difference of coagulating ability of a cationic peptide probe (P1) and its binding form toward naked AuNPs/AgNPs. In the absence of cyclin A 2, P1 coagulates particles immediately, whereas cyclin A 2 binding prevents the interaction of P1 with metal particles surface, significantly reducing the magnitude of aggregation. The extent of aggregation is dependent on the concentration of the target protein cyclin A 2 and the difference in color can readily be distinguished by spectrometer and naked eyes. The assay is sensitive and selective. Cyclin A 2 assay using AuNPs as colorimetric indicator is more easily monitored by naked eyes owing to the distinct color change, and 40 nM cyclin A 2 can be detected without the aid of any instruments. Using inexpensive desktop spectrometer, cyclin A 2 assay using AgNPs as colorimetric indicator can detect as low as 30 nM cyclin A 2, which is 20 fold lower than that of cyclin A 2 assay using terbium-chelating peptide as the probe reported recently ( Pazos et al., 2008, 130, 9652–9653). This strategy will shed light on developing of unlabeled peptide-based protein biosensors.

Drosophila Cyclin J is a mitotically stable Cdk1 partner without essential functions

Cyclin J is a cyclin family member that appears to have evolved before the metazoan radiation. Its evolutionary conservation argues for an important role but functional characterizations of Cyclin J have remained very limited. In Drosophila, Cyclin J is expressed only in females. Using transgenic Drosophila lines expressing Cyclin J versions with N- or C-terminal GFP extensions, we demonstrate that it is expressed exclusively in the germline. After low level expression in all nuclei within the germarium, it gets highly enriched in the germinal vesicle within the oocyte until stage 12 of oogenesis, followed by disappearance after germinal vesicle breakdown before the first meiotic division. Surprisingly, Cyclin J is not required for female fertility. Chromosome segregation during female meiosis, as well as the rapid early embryonic cell cycles after fertilization, occurs normally in the complete absence of Cyclin J. Cyclin J with EGFP fused at either N- or C-terminus binds to Cdk1 and not to Cdk2. However, in contrast to the other known Cdk1 partners, the A- and B-type cyclins, Cyclin J is not degraded during mitosis.

Roles of cyclins A and E in induction of centrosome amplification in p53-compromised cells

Abnormal amplification of centrosomes, which occurs frequently in cancers, leads to high frequencies of mitotic defect and chromosome segregation error, profoundly affecting the rate of tumor progression. Centrosome amplification results primarily from overduplication of centrosomes, and p53 is involved in the regulation of centrosome duplication partly through controlling the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2-cyclin E, a kinase complex critical for the initiation of centrosome duplication. Thus, loss or mutational inactivation of p53 leads to an increased frequency of centrosome amplification. Moreover, the status of cyclin E greatly influences the frequency of centrosome amplification in cells lacking functional p53. Here, we dissected the roles of CDK2-associating cyclins, namely cyclins E and A, in centrosome amplification in the p53-negative cells. We found that loss of cyclin E was readily compensated by cyclin A for triggering the initiation of centrosome duplication, and thus the centrosome duplication kinetics was not significantly altered in cyclin E-deficient cells. It has been shown that cells lacking functional p53, when arrested in either early S-phase or late G(2) phase, continue to reduplicate centrosomes, resulting in centrosome amplification. In cells arrested in early S phase, cyclin E, but not cyclin A, is important in centrosome amplification, whereas in the absence of cyclin E, cyclin A is important for centrosome amplification. In late G(2)-arrested cells, cyclin A is important in centrosome amplification irrespective of the cyclin E status. These findings advance our understandings of the mechanisms underlying the numeral abnormality of centrosomes and consequential genomic instability associated with loss of p53 function and aberrant expression of cyclins E and A in cancer cells.

Improved enrichment strategies for phosphorylated peptides on titanium dioxide using methyl esterification and pH gradient elution

Improvements to phosphopeptide enrichment protocols employing titanium dioxide (TiO 2) are described and applied to identification of phosphorylation sites on recombinant human cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2). Titanium dioxide binds phosphopeptides under acidic conditions, and they can be eluted under basic conditions. However, some nonphosphorylated peptides, particularly acidic peptides, bind and elute under these conditions as well. These nonphosphorylated peptides contribute significantly to ion suppression of phosphopeptides and also increase sample complexity. We show here that the conversion of peptide carboxylates to their corresponding methyl esters sharply reduces nonspecific binding, improving the selectivity for phosphopeptides, just as has been reported for immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) columns. We also present evidence that monophosphorylated peptides can be effectively fractionated from multiply phosphorylated peptides, as well as acidic peptides, via stepwise elution from TiO 2 using pH step gradients from pH 8.5 to pH 11.5. These approaches were applied to human CDK2 phosphorylated in vitro by yeast CAK1p in the absence of cyclin. We confirmed phosphorylation at T160, a site previously documented and shown to be necessary for CDK2 activity. However, we also discovered several novel sites of partial phosphorylation at S46, T47, T165, and Y168 when ion-suppressing nonphosphorylated peptides were eliminated using the new protocols.

There's more than one way to skin a cat: Yet another way to assess mitotic index by cytometry

There's more than one way to skin a cat: Yet another way to assess mitotic index by cytometry

Cell Cycle Arrest of Stamen Initials in Maize Sex Determination

The maize sex determination pathway results in the arrest of stamen in ear spikelets and the abortion of pistils in both the tassel spikelets and in the secondary florets of ear spikelets. Arrested stamen cells showed no signs of DNA fragmentation, an absence of CYCLIN B expression, and an accumulation of the negative cell cycle regulator WEE1 RNA.

Analysis of the genetic interactions between Cyclin A1, Atm and p53 during spermatogenesis

To analyze the functional interactions of Cyclin with p53 and Atm in spermatogenesis and DNA double-strand break repair. Two lines of double knockout mice were generated. Spermatogenesis and double strand break repair mechanisms were analyzed in Cyclin A1 (Ccna1); p53- and Ccna1; Atm-double knockout mice. The block in spermatogenesis observed in Cyclin A1-/- (Ccna1-/-) testes at the mid-diplotene stage is associated with polynucleated giant cells. We found that Ccna1-deficient testes and especially the giant cells accumulate unrepaired DNA double-strand breaks, as detected by immunohistochemistry for phosphorylated H2AX. In addition, the giant cells escape from apoptosis. The development of giant cells occurred in meiotic prophase I, because testes lacking ATM, which are known to develop spermatogenic arrest earlier than prophase I, do not develop giant cells in the absence of cyclin A1. Cyclin A1 interacted with p53 and phosphorylated p53 in complex with CDK2. Interestingly, p53-deficiency significantly increased the number of giant cells in Ccna1-deficient testes. Gene expression analyses of a panel of DNA repair genes in the mutant testes revealed that none of the genes examined were consistently misregulated in the absence of cyclin A1. Ccna1-deficiency in spermatogenesis is associated with defects in DNA double-strand break repair, which is enhanced by loss of p53.

Mitotic regulation of CDK4 by the serine/threonine phosphatase, calcineurin

Calcineurin was demonstrated to regulate the phosphorylation of threonine (T)-172 of CDK4. We further investigated how calcineurin can regulate this essential post-translational modification on CDK4. In this study, we demonstrate that calcineurin can associate predominantly with the cytoplasmic form of CDK4 in the absence of cyclin D. The inhibition of calcineurin phosphatase activity resulted in the specific increase of the phosphorylation and activity levels of CDK4 within the mitotic fraction. The association of calcineurin with CDK4 peaked during the mitotic phase of the cell cycle and coincided with reduction of CDK4 phosphorylation. Using structural mutants to CDK4, we localized the interaction site of calcineurin within the amino terminal residues of CDK4 that are important for both cyclin D and p16 INK4a binding. Our data suggest that calcineurin may regulate the kinase activity of CDK4 in a cell cycle-dependent manner and may be an important component of the negative regulation of CDK4.