What regulates the cell cycle in eukaryotes?
1 Answer
Cyclins and Cyclin Dependent Kinases ( CDK's ) determine the cells progress through the cell cycle.
Explanation:
Cyclins are regulatory subunits with no catalytic activity. There are two types of Cyclins:
A) Mitotic Cyclins
B) G1 Cyclins
CDK's are the catalytic subunits but are inactive in the absence of Cyclins.
Cyclins undergo constant cycle of synthesis and degradation during cell division. When Cyclins are synthesised, they act as an activating protein and bind to the CDK's. CDK's perform phosphorylation which acts as a signal for the cell to pass into the next phase of division. Eventually the Cyclin degrades , deactivating the CDK's.
Regulation of cell cycle includes the detection and repair of genetic damage as well as prevention of uncontrolled cell division.
The molecular events that control the cell cycle are sequential and irreversible .
