How do cyclins work together with cyclin-dependent protein kinases (Cdks) ro regulate cell cycle?
A.
Cyclins have no enzymatic activity themselves, but they must bind to the cell-cycle kinases before the kinases can become enzymatically active. The kinases of the cell-cycle control system are therefore known as cyclin-dependent protein kinases, or Cdks.
B.
Cyclins are so-named because, unlike the Cdks, their concentrations vary in a cyclical fashion during the cell cycle. The cyclical changes in cyclin concentrations help drive the cyclic assembly and activation of the cyclin–Cdk complexes.
C.
Once activated, a cyclin–Cdk complex phosphorylates key proteins in the cell that are required to initiate particular steps in the cell cycle.
D.
Thus, cyclin–Cdk complexes help trigger various cell-cycle events, such as entry into S phase or M phase. The cyclin also helps direct the Cdk to the target proteins that the Cdk phosphorylates.