How to Control Cell Division

Cell division controls are necessary for understanding cancer. The proteins involved in controlling the cell cycle provide a new target for treating cancer.

Each division represents an ordered series of events. The S phase and mitosis ensure that the daughter cells receive a full set of chromosomes. If these events are not properly completed, the genetic information will not pass to the daughter cells. Newly formed daughter cells will either die or have some genetic damage.

Cell division controls are necessary to complete the S phase and mitosis in an orderly manner.

Instructions

• 1

  Monitor and manage the protein kinases required for cell division. Cyclin-dependent kinases---or CDKs---are the most important protein kinases used to control cell division. Each CDK consists of cyclin and enzymatic kinases. Cyclin kinases help activate enzymes. Enzymatic kinases transfer phosphates onto other proteins. Both must be activated in cancer cells for cell division to occur.

• 2

  Ensure the presence of CDC2 (for cell division cycle 2), the gene most essential to the control of cell division. Cells lacking CDC2 will not complete the S phase and mitosis. Cells without CDC2 grow continuously in size, incapable of cell division.

• 3

  Regulate levels of kinase activity. CDC2 encodes protein kinases, which interact with cyclin protein to control cell division. The S phase of the cell cycle completes at a low-kinase activity level while mitosis requires high-kinase activity. In some more complex cells, CDC2 and cyclin-dependent kinases together control cell division.