Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2, Cell Division Protein Kinase 2, p33 Protein Kinase, CDK2, CDKN2
Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) belongs to the cyclin-dependent kinase of Ser/Thr protein kinase. CDK2 acts as a catalytic subunit of the cyclin dependent kinase complex, whose activity is restricted to the G1-S phage of the cell cycle, it is essential for the G1/S transition. The kinase activity of CDK2 can be regulated by the association with a cyclin subunit, its phosphorylation state and CDK inhibitors. The activation of the CDK2/cyclin complex requires the phosphorylation of Thr160 and the dephosphorylation of Try14 and Tyr15. The inhibition of CDK2-cyclin complex can also be attributed to association with p27Kip1 and p21Waf1/Cip1. The activation of CDK2 has been shown to be necessary for apoptosis of quiescent cells, such as neurons, thymocytes and endothelial cells.
