Mitosis inducer protein kinase cdr2

Cdr2 is a serine/threonine protein kinase mitotic regulator in the fission yeast S. pombe. It is encoded by the P87050 2247 bp ORF on the cosmid 57A10. The protein is 775 amino acids in length. Cdr2 is a member of the GIN4 family of kinases, which prevent progression of mitosis if there is a problem with septin. The N-terminus contains a sequence characteristic of serine/threonine protein kinase activity. The C-terminus, while non-catalytic, is necessary for proper localization of Cdr2 during interphase.

Cdr2 null constructs behave similarly to wild-type constructs; the only difference being a slight delay into mitosis and consequently, cells are slightly larger than in wild-type constructs. Therefore, Cdr2 is non-essential. Cdr2 regulates mitotic entry through direct inhibition of Wee1, which is then unable to continue to Cdk1 and subsequently start mitosis.