Cyclin D1/D2 Products

Description

The D-type cyclins (cyclins D1, D2, and D3) and their associated kinases, Cdk4 and Cdk6, play an important role in the progression from G₀/G₁ to S phase in the mammalian cell cycle. Cyclin D complexes containing Cdk4 or Cdk6 phosphorylate the retinoblastoma protein (pRb). pRb phosphorylation leads to the release of E2F transcription factors, which activate the expression of S-phase genes and thereby induce cell cycle progression. Cyclin D1, independent of Cdk4 activity, functions as a transcriptional modulator by regulating the activity of several transcription factors, such as estrogen receptor, Myb, and STAT3. Cyclin D1 has also been linked to the development and progression of several cancers including breast, bladder, esophagus, and lung. Overexpression of Cyclin D2 has been reported in gastric carcinoma, ovarian granulose cell tumors, and hematopoietic cell cancers, while in breast cancers, cyclin D2 expression is undetectable in 80% of the tumors.

Bioinformatics