Mitotic Roles of Polo Like Kinase

Polo-like kinase (PLK) was named for the pologene originally described in Drosophila, and is involved in regulating cell cycle kinetics. During the G1-S phases, PLK activates Cdc2-Cyclin B to phosphorylate HsEg5, initiating centrosome separation and maturation. The positive feedback loop involving Cdc25, Cdc2, and PLK then signals the cell to enter mitosis. Next, PLK facilitates the metaphase-to-anaphase transition by activating the anaphase-promoting complex (APC). Downstream activation of Esp1 then leads to mitotic exit. Finally, septum formation and cytokinesis is regulated by the Cdc7 pathway, which loops back to turn off PLK activity when the process is complete.

 

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