Sign up for Table of Contents Alerts.

Email this page

Print this page

Perspectives

Polo Kinase and Cytokinesis Initiation in Mammalian Cells: Harnessing the Awesome Power of Chemical Genetics

Catherine L. Randall, Mark E. Burkard and Prasad V. Jallepalli

Purchase article for $19

Subscribe to this journal for $129/year

The last decade has brought rapid advances in our knowledge of the human genome, as well as increasingly sophisticated methods to analyze how each of ~30,000 genes within it contribute to cellular, tissue, and organismal function. Here, we review this technological revolution in the context of Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), which has emerged as a central regulator of multiple processes fundamental to cell division. In particular, we highlight similarities and differences when Plk1 function is probed through various methods, including novel chemical inhibitors, and how our understanding of Plk1’s role in mitosis and cell division has been enhanced as a consequence.

Authors

Catherine L. Randall

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY USA

Mark E. Burkard

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY USA

Prasad V. Jallepalli

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY

Purchase article for $19

Subscribe to this journal for $129/year