Dbf2p

Dbf2p is a protein in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that plays a crucial role in cell cycle progression, specifically during mitosis. It is a kinase, meaning it adds phosphate groups to other proteins, thereby regulating their activity. Dbf2p is part of a larger protein complex called the Dbf2-Dbf20 complex, which is essential for the proper execution of cytokinesis, the process of cell division.

The Dbf2-Dbf20 complex is involved in the regulation of the spindle pole bodies, which are important structures for organizing microtubules during cell division. Dbf2p itself is activated by phosphorylation and interacts with various other proteins involved in cell cycle control. Its precise substrates and regulatory mechanisms are areas of ongoing research.

Mutations in the gene encoding Dbf2p (DBF2) lead to a variety of cellular defects, including cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, abnormal spindle morphology, and failed cytokinesis, resulting in the formation of multinucleated cells. These phenotypes highlight the critical function of Dbf2p in ensuring accurate chromosome segregation and cell division. Dbf2p is evolutionarily conserved, with homologous proteins found in other eukaryotes, underscoring its fundamental importance in cell biology. Research into Dbf2p contributes to our understanding of cell division mechanisms and potential targets for therapeutic interventions in diseases involving uncontrolled cell proliferation.