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Control of the Cell Cycle definitions

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  • Cell Cycle
    A series of ordered stages a cell progresses through to grow and divide, tightly regulated to prevent uncontrolled proliferation.
  • Cyclin
    A regulatory protein whose fluctuating concentration determines the activation of kinases at specific cell cycle stages.
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase
    An enzyme always present in cells, activated by binding to specific partners, to control cell cycle transitions via phosphorylation.
  • Phosphorylation
    A chemical modification involving the addition of a phosphate group, often used to regulate protein activity during cell cycle events.
  • Checkpoint
    A control mechanism at key cell cycle stages that assesses readiness for progression by monitoring factors like DNA integrity and cell size.
  • G1 Cyclin
    A protein crucial for early cell cycle progression, especially in preparing the cell for DNA synthesis and ensuring proper growth conditions.
  • S Cyclin
    A regulatory protein that peaks during DNA synthesis, ensuring accurate replication and repair before cell division.
  • M Cyclin
    A protein that accumulates before mitosis, activating kinases required for chromosome segregation and cell division.
  • CDK Inhibitor
    A protein that binds to kinase complexes, blocking their function and halting cell cycle progression when necessary.
  • Anaphase Promoting Complex
    A multi-protein complex that tags specific regulatory proteins for destruction, ensuring proper cell cycle exit after mitosis.
  • Ubiquitin
    A small protein that marks other proteins for degradation, playing a key role in removing cyclins after their function is complete.
  • CDC25
    A phosphatase enzyme that removes inhibitory phosphates from kinases, enabling their activation at critical cell cycle points.
  • Spindle Checkpoint
    A surveillance mechanism during mitosis ensuring chromosomes are correctly attached to the spindle before separation.
  • G2 Checkpoint
    A control point ensuring DNA replication is complete and any damage is repaired before the cell enters mitosis.
  • Start Checkpoint
    A critical decision point in late G1 where the cell commits to division, after which the process becomes irreversible.