CDKdependent

CDKdependent is a term used in molecular biology to describe proteins, events, or pathways that require phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) to become active, change behavior, or be completed. The term highlights dependence on CDK activity rather than CDK presence alone. CDKs are serine/threonine kinases activated by binding to cyclins; they regulate the cell cycle, transcription, DNA replication, and other cellular processes. CDK-dependent substrates are typically phosphorylated at Ser/Thr-Pro motifs, though substrate recognition is broader and context-dependent, with docking motifs and adaptor proteins guiding phosphorylation.

CDKdependent processes can influence cell cycle transitions (G1/S, G2/M), replication licensing, chromatin condensation, and transcriptional programs. In many systems, sequential CDK activity ensures order: early G1 CDKs prime substrates, followed by S-phase CDKs and mitotic CDKs. Phosphorylation can alter substrate activity, localization, stability, or interactions, enabling downstream events.

In research, identifying CDKdependent substrates helps map signaling networks and understand how cell division is coordinated. Techniques include in vitro kinase assays, phosphoproteomics, and genetic approaches. Clinically, dysregulation of CDK activity and CDK-dependent phosphorylation is linked to cancer; CDK inhibitors are used or explored as anti-cancer therapies.

CDKdependent is thus a practical descriptor for a class of phosphorylation-dependent regulatory events governed by CDKs, reflecting how cyclin-CDK activity transforms substrate behavior to drive complex cellular programs.