CDKdriven

CDKdriven is a term used in biology to describe cellular processes, pathways, or states that are primarily regulated by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). It denotes systems in which CDK activity is the dominant driver of progression, rather than other signaling inputs. The concept appears in cell biology, cancer research, and developmental biology to emphasize the central role of CDKs in controlling proliferation and related functions.

CDKs are a family of serine/threonine kinases that regulate key cellular steps. CDK4/6 control early cell cycle progression from G1 to S phase, CDK2 supports S phase activities, and CDK1 drives entry into mitosis. Transcriptional CDKs, such as CDK7 and CDK9, influence RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription. Activation typically requires binding to regulatory cyclins and specific activating phosphorylations, while activity is tempered by CDK inhibitors. In a CDKdriven context, high CDK activity promotes progression through cell cycle checkpoints and licensing of DNA replication, with substrate phosphorylation serving as a readout of activity (for example, RB protein phosphorylation correlates with CDK activity).

The term is often applied to cancer biology, where elevated CDK activity—due to loss of tumor suppressors or cyclin overexpression—creates dependence on CDKs for continued proliferation. It also describes developmental or stem cell contexts where timed CDK activity governs proliferation and differentiation. Researchers assess CDKdriven states using substrate phosphorylation patterns, kinase activity assays, and transcriptional signatures of CDK targets.

Therapeutically, CDKdriven cancers may respond to CDK inhibitors, notably selective CDK4/6 inhibitors such as palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib, which aim to halt cell cycle progression. Ongoing research seeks biomarkers to better define CDK-driven programs and distinguish them from CDK-independent processes.