Biology:Cyclin-dependent kinase 4
Generic protein structure example |
Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), also known as cell division protein kinase 4, is an enzyme that is encoded by the CDK4 gene in humans. CDK4 is a member of the cyclin-dependent kinase family, a group of serine/threonine kinases which regulate the cell cycle.[1] CDK4 regulates the G1/S transition by contributing to the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (RB) protein, which leads to the release of protein factors like E2F1 that promote S-phase progression.[2] It is regulated by cyclins like cyclin D proteins, regulatory kinases, and cyclin kinase inhibitors (CKIs).[2] Dysregulation of the CDK4 pathway is common in many cancers, and CDK4 is a new therapeutic target in cancer treatment.[3]
Structure
The CDK4 gene is located on chromosome 12 in humans.[4] The gene is composed of 4,583 base pairs which together code for the 303 amino acid protein with a molecular mass of 33,730 Da.[4][5] All CDK proteins, including CDK4, have two lobes: the smaller N-terminal lobe (which contains an inhibitory G-loop), and the C terminal lobe (which contains an activation domain and a T-loop). Between these two lobes is the serine/threonine kinase domain where ATP binds. In its completely inactive form, CDK4's T-loop blocks the ATP binding site, and the surrounding amino acid side chains prevent ATP binding.[1] The kinase's activity increases when it dimerizes with the corresponding cyclin, cyclin D, which causes a conformational change at the ATP binding site. CDK activating kinase (CAK) then phosphorylates the T172 site (located on the T-loop).[2][6][7] These two actions move the T-loop out of the active ATP-binding site and make ATP binding more favorable.
Notably, CDK6 is very related to CDK4 in both structure and function. They share 71% of their amino acids and both regulate the G1/S transition by phosphorylating Rb. CDK4 and 6 differ in their cellular localization and other off-pathway roles, however are commonly referred together as CDK4/6.[1]
The CDK4 protein is similar to the fungi gene products of S. cerevisiae cdc28 and S. pombe cdc2.[4]
Function

CDK4 is the catalytic subunit of the protein-kinase complex CDK4-cyclin D, which plays a role in G1/S cell cycle progression.[2] During G1 phase, the cell grows and prepares for the DNA replication that occurs in the S phase. There is a G1/S checkpoint which acts as a committed step to enter S-phase. This checkpoint ensures that cells moving toward mitosis are large enough and do not have DNA damage that could be passed on to daughter cells.[8]
There are two models of CDK4 cell cycle regulation. The older model proposes that the kinase is responsible for the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma gene product (Rb). The Ser/Thr-kinase component of cyclin D-CDK4 (DC) forms complexes that phosphorylate and inhibit members of the retinoblastoma (RB) protein family including RB1 and regulate the cell-cycle during G1/S transition. Phosphorylation of RB1 allows dissociation of the transcription factor E2F from the RB/E2F complexes and the subsequent transcription of E2F target genes which are responsible for the progression through the G1 phase. In this model, CDK4 inhibits Rb, which inhibits E2F, which promotes progression into S phase.
The newer model, as proposed in a 2014 paper by Narasimha et al., The CDK4-cyclin D complex phosphorylates the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (Rb) and its related proteins p107 and p130, which go on to inhibit cell cycle progression.[2] As a kinase, the CDK4 serine/threonine active site converts ATP to ADP and transfers the removed phosphate group to Rb. Rb is mono-phosphorylated in early G1 by the CDK4-cyclin D complex. When mono-phosphorylated, Rb exists as one of the 14 isoforms, which bind to protein factors like E1a, and proteins in the E2F family.[9]
The new model of CDK4 regulation posits that at the G1/S checkpoint, if a cell seems healthy, CDK2 (a different cyclin dependent kinase) inactivates Rb, and these protein factors are released back into the cell. E2F proteins then activate the transcription of genes that cause S-phase progression.[2] However, if at the G1/S checkpoint a cell detects DNA damage, it will respond by activating the CDK4-cyclin D complex to mono-phosphorylate, and activate Rb. This prevents Rb from dissociating from E2F proteins, which prevents them from activating the transcription of the S-phase progression genes.[9]
While CDK4 primarily regulates the cell cycle through phosphorylation of Rb, there is evidence of a secondary, more direct role independent of Rb. CDK4 may be able to directly phosphorylate transcription factors and co-regulators like Smad3, MYC, FOXM1, and MEP50 to regulate the cell cycle, survival and senescence.
Interestingly, CDK4-null mutant mice are viable, and in-vitro experiments show that cell proliferation is not significantly affected, likely due to compensatory roles played by other CDKs. However, CDK plays a significant role in cancer development.[10]
Mechanisms of regulation
CDK4 is only active during the G1-S phase, which controlled by cyclin D and CDK inhibitors. CDK activity is negatively regulated by cyclin kinase inhibitors (CKIs), which belong to one of two families. The INK4 family of CKIs are inhibitors which bind and inhibit CDK4/6, also preventing subsequent binding to cyclin D. The Cip/Kip family inhibitors are not specific to CDK4/6, and instead bind and inhibit the cyclin-CDK complex.[1]
CDK4 activity is positively regulated by cyclin D, which creates a conformational change in CDK4 that opens the active site for kinase activity. Cyclins are proteins that change concentration periodically during the cell cycle. They are extremely specific and diverse, which serves to regulate the cell cycle with precision. Cyclin D levels oscillate during the G1 phase, first increasing and accumulating, then rapidly decreasing during the transition to the S phase.[1] Cyclin D levels are stimulated by growth factors, without which cyclin D levels would stay low regardless of cell cycle stage.[10] After its role in G1 is complete, cyclin D is translocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in S phase, modulating the nuclear cyclin D levels, and therefore modulating the activity of CDK4 to promote the S phase transition.[1]
Clinical significance
Cancer
Cancer, or uncontrolled cell proliferation, is believed to result from disturbances to mechanisms that usually control cell proliferation (tumor suppressors) and mechanisms that normally encourage cell proliferation (proto-oncogenes). Cell cycle regulation mechanisms called checkpoints, like G1/S, are in place to prevent this uncontrolled division.[2]
Mutations in the CDK4 gene as well as in its related proteins including D-type cyclins, p16(INK4a), CDKN2A and Rb were all found to be associated with tumorigenesis of a variety of cancers, including sarcomas, gliomas, lymphomas and tumors of the mammary gland.[10] One specific point mutation of CDK4 (R24C) was first identified in melanoma patients. This mutation was introduced also in animal models and its role as a cancer driver oncogene was studied thoroughly.[10] Nowadays, deregulated CDK4 is considered to be a potential therapeutic target in some cancer types and various CDK4 inhibitors are being tested for cancer treatment in clinical trials. Multiple polyadenylation sites of this gene have been reported.
Cyclin D and CDK4/6 activities are observed to be up-regulated in certain cancers, sparking interest in the development of small-molecule inhibitors of CDK4/6. Ribociclib are US FDA approved CDK4 and CDK6 inhibitors for the treatment of estrogen receptor positive/ HER2 negative advanced breast cancer.[11]
HIV
There is some evidence that CDK4 plays a role in the HIV-1 restriction pathway in primary microphages. Cell cycle control plays a major role in determining susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. Active CDKs phosphorylate SAMHD1, deactivating the enzyme which usually can restrict HIV-1 replication. A complex formed by cyclin D2-CDK4-p21 lowers the amount of active CDK in the cell, allowing SAMHD1 to exist in its active, dephosphorylated form that restricts HIV-1 replication.[12]
Interactions
Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 has been shown to interact with:

References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "The driving power of the cell cycle: cyclin-dependent kinases, cyclins and their inhibitors". Bratislavske Lekarske Listy 124 (4): 261–266. 2023. doi:10.4149/BLL_2023_039. PMID 36598318.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "CDK4: A Key Player in the Cell Cycle, Development, and Cancer". Genes & Cancer 3 (11–12): 658–669. November 2012. doi:10.1177/1947601913478972. PMID 23634254.
- ↑ "Updates on the CDK4/6 Inhibitory Strategy and Combinations in Breast Cancer". Cells 8 (4): 321. April 2019. doi:10.3390/cells8040321. PMID 30959874.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Entrez Gene: CDK4 cyclin-dependent kinase 4". https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene?Db=gene&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=1019.
- ↑ "CDK4 - Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 - Homo sapiens (Human) - CDK4 gene & protein". https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P11802.
- ↑ "Crystal structure of active CDK4-cyclin D and mechanistic basis for abemaciclib efficacy". npj Breast Cancer 8 (1). November 2022. doi:10.1038/s41523-022-00494-y. PMID 36446794.
- ↑ "Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (CDK) and Their Role in Diseases Development-Review". International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22 (6): 2935. March 2021. doi:10.3390/ijms22062935. PMID 33805800.
- ↑ "Cell Cycle: DNA Damage Checkpoints". Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry (Second ed.). Waltham: Academic Press. 2013-01-01. pp. 410–416. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-378630-2.00419-9. ISBN 978-0-12-378631-9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780123786302004199. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Davis, Roger, ed (June 2014). "Cyclin D activates the Rb tumor suppressor by mono-phosphorylation". eLife 3. doi:10.7554/eLife.02872. PMID 24876129.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "CDK4: a master regulator of the cell cycle and its role in cancer". Genes & Cancer 13: 21–45. 2022. doi:10.18632/genesandcancer.221. PMID 36051751.
- ↑ "Approved Drugs > Ribociclib (Kisqali)". https://www.fda.gov/drugs/informationondrugs/approveddrugs/ucm546438.htm.
- ↑ "The G1/S Specific Cyclin D2 Is a Regulator of HIV-1 Restriction in Non-proliferating Cells". PLOS Pathogens 12 (8). August 2016. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1005829. PMID 27541004.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Large-scale mapping of human protein-protein interactions by mass spectrometry". Molecular Systems Biology 3 (1). 2007. doi:10.1038/msb4100134. PMID 17353931.
- ↑ "Physical interaction of mammalian CDC37 with CDK4". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 271 (36): 22030–22034. September 1996. doi:10.1074/jbc.271.36.22030. PMID 8703009.
- ↑ "Interaction between Cdc37 and Cdk4 in human cells". Oncogene 14 (16): 1999–2004. April 1997. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1201036. PMID 9150368.
- ↑ "Mammalian p50Cdc37 is a protein kinase-targeting subunit of Hsp90 that binds and stabilizes Cdk4". Genes & Development 10 (12): 1491–1502. June 1996. doi:10.1101/gad.10.12.1491. PMID 8666233.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Cdk6-cyclin D3 complex evades inhibition by inhibitor proteins and uniquely controls cell's proliferation competence". Oncogene 20 (16): 2000–2009. April 2001. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1204375. PMID 11360184.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Down-regulation of p21WAF1/CIP1 or p27Kip1 abrogates antiestrogen-mediated cell cycle arrest in human breast cancer cells". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 97 (16): 9042–9046. August 2000. doi:10.1073/pnas.160016897. PMID 10908655. Bibcode: 2000PNAS...97.9042C.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Towards a proteome-scale map of the human protein-protein interaction network". Nature 437 (7062): 1173–1178. October 2005. doi:10.1038/nature04209. PMID 16189514. Bibcode: 2005Natur.437.1173R.
- ↑ "A skeleton of the human protein interactome". Cell 122 (6): 830–832. September 2005. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2005.09.006. PMID 16179252.
- ↑ "Growth suppression by p18, a p16INK4/MTS1- and p14INK4B/MTS2-related CDK6 inhibitor, correlates with wild-type pRb function". Genes & Development 8 (24): 2939–2952. December 1994. doi:10.1101/gad.8.24.2939. PMID 8001816.
- ↑ "C/EBPalpha arrests cell proliferation through direct inhibition of Cdk2 and Cdk4". Molecular Cell 8 (4): 817–828. October 2001. doi:10.1016/S1097-2765(01)00366-5. PMID 11684017.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 "Regulation of CDK4 activity by a novel CDK4-binding protein, p34(SEI-1)". Genes & Development 13 (22): 3027–3033. November 1999. doi:10.1101/gad.13.22.3027. PMID 10580009.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Cell cycle. Dams and sluices". Nature 366 (6456): 634–635. December 1993. doi:10.1038/366634a0. PMID 8259207.
- ↑ "Calmodulin is essential for cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) activity and nuclear accumulation of cyclin D1-Cdk4 during G1". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 273 (50): 33279–33286. December 1998. doi:10.1074/jbc.273.50.33279. PMID 9837900.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Identification of CDK4 sequences involved in cyclin D1 and p16 binding". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 272 (30): 18869–18874. July 1997. doi:10.1074/jbc.272.30.18869. PMID 9228064.
- ↑ "A novel partner for D-type cyclins: protein kinase A-anchoring protein AKAP95". The Biochemical Journal 378 (Pt 2): 673–679. March 2004. doi:10.1042/BJ20031765. PMID 14641107.
- ↑ "Developmentally regulated expression of cyclin D3 and its potential in vivo interacting proteins during murine gametogenesis". Endocrinology 140 (6): 2790–2800. June 1999. doi:10.1210/endo.140.6.6756. PMID 10342870.
- ↑ "Direct inhibition of G(1) cdk kinase activity by MyoD promotes myoblast cell cycle withdrawal and terminal differentiation". The EMBO Journal 18 (24): 6983–6993. December 1999. doi:10.1093/emboj/18.24.6983. PMID 10601020.
- ↑ "Coupling of the cell cycle and myogenesis through the cyclin D1-dependent interaction of MyoD with cdk4". The EMBO Journal 18 (4): 926–933. February 1999. doi:10.1093/emboj/18.4.926. PMID 10022835.
- ↑ "Inhibition of pRb phosphorylation and cell-cycle progression by a 20-residue peptide derived from p16CDKN2/INK4A". Current Biology 6 (1): 84–91. January 1996. doi:10.1016/S0960-9822(02)00425-6. PMID 8805225.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 "The nuclear protein p34SEI-1 regulates the kinase activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 in a concentration-dependent manner". Biochemistry 43 (14): 4394–4399. April 2004. doi:10.1021/bi035601s. PMID 15065884.
- ↑ "Subunit rearrangement of the cyclin-dependent kinases is associated with cellular transformation". Genes & Development 7 (8): 1572–1583. August 1993. doi:10.1101/gad.7.8.1572. PMID 8101826.
Further reading
- "Homology probing: identification of cDNA clones encoding members of the protein-serine kinase family". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 84 (2): 388–392. January 1987. doi:10.1073/pnas.84.2.388. PMID 2948189. Bibcode: 1987PNAS...84..388H.
- "Evidence for different modes of action of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors: p15 and p16 bind to kinases, p21 and p27 bind to cyclins". Oncogene 11 (8): 1581–1588. October 1995. PMID 7478582.
- "Identification of human cyclin-dependent kinase 8, a putative protein kinase partner for cyclin C". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 92 (19): 8871–8875. September 1995. doi:10.1073/pnas.92.19.8871. PMID 7568034. Bibcode: 1995PNAS...92.8871T.
- "Mapping of gene loci in the Q13-Q15 region of chromosome 12". Chromosome Research 3 (4): 261–262. June 1995. doi:10.1007/BF00713052. PMID 7606365.
- "A p16INK4a-insensitive CDK4 mutant targeted by cytolytic T lymphocytes in a human melanoma". Science 269 (5228): 1281–1284. September 1995. doi:10.1126/science.7652577. PMID 7652577. Bibcode: 1995Sci...269.1281W.
- "Novel INK4 proteins, p19 and p18, are specific inhibitors of the cyclin D-dependent kinases CDK4 and CDK6". Molecular and Cellular Biology 15 (5): 2672–2681. May 1995. doi:10.1128/MCB.15.5.2672. PMID 7739547.
- "Identification of human and mouse p19, a novel CDK4 and CDK6 inhibitor with homology to p16ink4". Molecular and Cellular Biology 15 (5): 2682–2688. May 1995. doi:10.1128/MCB.15.5.2682. PMID 7739548.
- "Growth suppression by p18, a p16INK4/MTS1- and p14INK4B/MTS2-related CDK6 inhibitor, correlates with wild-type pRb function". Genes & Development 8 (24): 2939–2952. December 1994. doi:10.1101/gad.8.24.2939. PMID 8001816.
- "Regulation of cyclin D-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4) by cdk4-activating kinase". Molecular and Cellular Biology 14 (4): 2713–2721. April 1994. doi:10.1128/MCB.14.4.2713. PMID 8139570.
- "Coamplification of the CDK4 gene with MDM2 and GLI in human sarcomas". Cancer Research 53 (22): 5535–5541. November 1993. PMID 8221695.
- "A new regulatory motif in cell-cycle control causing specific inhibition of cyclin D/CDK4". Nature 366 (6456): 704–707. December 1993. doi:10.1038/366704a0. PMID 8259215. Bibcode: 1993Natur.366..704S.
- "Chromosomal mapping of human CDK2, CDK4, and CDK5 cell cycle kinase genes". Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics 66 (1): 72–74. 1994. doi:10.1159/000133669. PMID 8275715.
- "Direct binding of cyclin D to the retinoblastoma gene product (pRb) and pRb phosphorylation by the cyclin D-dependent kinase CDK4". Genes & Development 7 (3): 331–342. March 1993. doi:10.1101/gad.7.3.331. PMID 8449399.
- "Germline mutations in the p16INK4a binding domain of CDK4 in familial melanoma". Nature Genetics 12 (1): 97–99. January 1996. doi:10.1038/ng0196-97. PMID 8528263.
- "A "double adaptor" method for improved shotgun library construction". Analytical Biochemistry 236 (1): 107–113. April 1996. doi:10.1006/abio.1996.0138. PMID 8619474.
- "Differential regulation of retinoblastoma protein function by specific Cdk phosphorylation sites". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 271 (14): 8313–8320. April 1996. doi:10.1074/jbc.271.14.8313. PMID 8626527.
- "Cyclin-dependent kinases are inactivated by a combination of p21 and Thr-14/Tyr-15 phosphorylation after UV-induced DNA damage". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 271 (22): 13283–13291. May 1996. doi:10.1074/jbc.271.22.13283. PMID 8662825.
- "Mammalian p50Cdc37 is a protein kinase-targeting subunit of Hsp90 that binds and stabilizes Cdk4". Genes & Development 10 (12): 1491–1502. June 1996. doi:10.1101/gad.10.12.1491. PMID 8666233.
- "Physical interaction of mammalian CDC37 with CDK4". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 271 (36): 22030–22034. September 1996. doi:10.1074/jbc.271.36.22030. PMID 8703009.
- "Inhibition of pRb phosphorylation and cell-cycle progression by a 20-residue peptide derived from p16CDKN2/INK4A". Current Biology 6 (1): 84–91. January 1996. doi:10.1016/S0960-9822(02)00425-6. PMID 8805225.
External links
- Cyclin-Dependent+Kinase+4 at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
- CDK4 human gene location in the UCSC Genome Browser.
- CDK4 human gene details in the UCSC Genome Browser.
