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Structural basis for CDK6 activation by a virus-encoded cyclin

Journal Article · · Nature Structural Biology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/nsb756· OSTI ID:795344

Cyclin from herpesvirus saimiri (Vcyclin) preferentially forms complexes with cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) from primate host cells. These complexes show higher kinase activity than host cell CDK complexes with cellular cyclins and are resistant to cyclin-dependent inhibitory proteins (CDKIs). The crystal structure of human CDK6-Vcyclin in an active state was determined to 3.1 Angstrom resolution to get a better understanding of the structural basis of CDK6 activation by viral cyclins. The unphosphorylated CDK6 complexed to Vcyclin has many features characteristic of cyclinA-activated, phosphorylated CDK2. There are, however, differences in the conformation at the tip of the T-loop and its interactions with Vcyclin. Residues in the N-terminal extension of Vcyclin wrap around the tip of the CDK6 T-loop and form a short b-sheet with the T-loop backbone. These interactions lead to a 20 percent larger buried surface in the CDK6-Vcyclin interface than in the CDK2-cyclinA complex and are probably largely responsible for Vcyclin specificity for CDK6 and resistance of the complex to inhibition by INK-typeCDKIs.

Research Organization:
Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Director, Office of Science; National Institutes of Health (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
795344
Report Number(s):
LBNL--49454
Journal Information:
Nature Structural Biology, Journal Name: Nature Structural Biology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 9
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English