Functions of Polo-like Kinase 1 in Cell Cycle and Cell Cycle Checkpoint

Polo-like kinase 1(Plk1) belongs to a family of serine/threonine kinase that are highly conserved in organisms from yeast to human.Polo-like kinase 1 is a key regulator of cell division in enkaryotic cells.Plk1 involves in the regulation of different processes of mitosis,including mitotic entry,spindle formation and cytokines.Spatial and temporal coordination of Plk1 activity is needed in agreement with its abroad functions during cell division,and this is achieved through its banding to phosphorylated docking proteins with distinct subcellular localization.Moreover,Plk1 is also reported to have functions in both G_2 and mitotic DNA damage checkpoints.Plk1 is necessary for mitotic entry following recovery from DNA damage.And mitotic cells with DNA damage agents inhibits Plk1 activity through dephosphorylation of Plk1.Recent findings are uncovering the mechanisms of Plk1 regulation,especially its involvement in the DNA damage checkpoint.It has now been broadly investigated of the mechanisms of Plk1 biological fuuction.Plk1 is overexpressed in lots of human cancers,and overexpressin of Plk1 promotes neoplastic transformation of human cells.Plk1 has been identified as a promising target for the molecular therapy of neoplasia.