Activation of CDC25 at the G2 mitosis transition Aktivierung von CDC25 im G2/Mitose-Übergang

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. H. Chica Schaller (†)
• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: from 1997 to 2001
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5387855

Head activator (HA) acts as mitogen in the G2/mitosis transition both in a simple organism like hydra and in early mammalian development. Targets of HA in mammals are neuronal precursor and neuroendocrine cells and cell lines derived from tumors thereof. The human embryonal carcinoma cell line NT2 is suitable as very early model for neuronal development and to study cell cycle regulation, because of its short cycling time, determination to neuronal fates, and easy handling. After treatment of NT2 cells with HA, starting one hour later, an increase of cells in mitosis is observed. HA-stimulated mitosis is prevented by blocking RNA or protein synthesis and by interfering with HA signal transduction. The latter includes activation of the calcium calmodulin dependent kinase II which we postulate as trigger to initiate CDC25-mediated stimulation of the cyclinB-CDK1 complex. New synthesis of CDC25, induced by HA, may contribute to enhance entry into mitosis. Both postulates require further detailed evidence, and are subjects of this research proposal.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 314: Kontrolle des Zellzyklus bei Eukaryonten