Checkpoints in the Cell Cycle

Béla Novák, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
Jill C Sible, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
John J Tyson, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA

Published online: February 2003

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0001355

Surveillance mechanisms stop progression through the cell cycle at specific checkpoints (at the G1  S, G2  M and metaphase  anaphase transitions) if certain crucial requirements have not been met. These checkpoint controls are essential for maintaining genomic integrity and balanced growth and division.

Keywords: G1 checkpoint; G2 checkpoint; spindle checkpoint; restriction point; Start

Figure 1. Accelerators (green) and brakes (red) of the cell cycle engine. Checkpoint pathways (dashed lines) modulate the activities of the accelerators and brakes. Pro, prophase; Meta, metaphase; Ana, anaphase; Telo, telophase; CKI, cyclin kinase inhibitor; DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid; Rb, retinoblastoma protein; Sk, starter kinase.
Figure 2. Three different ways to regulate cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) activity. Continuous arrows represent chemical transformations, while dashed arrows indicate regulatory signals (arrowhead indicates activation, blunt end indicates inhibition, diamond head indicates both activatory and inhibitory effects). APC, anaphase-promoting complex; CKI, cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor; SCF, Skp1–Cullin–Fbox protein complex; Ub, ubiquitin.
Figure 3. Mammalian checkpoint pathways that block cell cycle progression as a consequence of blocked deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication and DNA damage. CIP, Cdk-interacting protein.
Figure 4. Checkpoint pathways that block mitotic transitions as a consequence of spindle damage. APC, anaphase-promoting complex.
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 Further Reading
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Related Sub-Topics:

Cell Cycle | Chromosomes and Chromatin Modifications | DNA Structure and Function | DNA Damage and Repair
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Article Title: Checkpoints in the Cell Cycle
 
How to Cite close
Novák, Béla, Sible, Jill C, and Tyson, John J(Feb 2003) Checkpoints in the Cell Cycle. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0001355]