Cdc20: At the Crossroads between Chromosome Segregation and Mitotic Exit

Trends Biochem Sci. 2017 Mar;42(3):193-205. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2016.12.001. Epub 2017 Feb 12.

Abstract

Cell-division cycle protein 20 homologue (Cdc20) has important functions in chromosome segregation and mitotic exit. Cdc20 is the target of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) and a key cofactor of the anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C) E3 ubiquitin ligase, thus regulating APC/C ubiquitin activity on specific substrates for their subsequent degradation by the proteasome. Here we discuss the roles of Cdc20 in SAC signalling and mitotic exit, describe how the integration of traditional approaches with emerging technologies has revealed new details of Cdc20 functions, comment about the potential of Cdc20 as a therapeutic target for the treatment of human malignancies, and discuss recent advances and controversies in the mechanistic understanding of the control of chromosome segregation during cell division.

Keywords: APC/C; Cdc20; chromosome instability; degron; mitotic exit; spindle assembly checkpoint.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cdc20 Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chromosome Segregation*
  • Humans
  • Mitosis*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spindle Apparatus / metabolism

Substances

  • Cdc20 Proteins
  • CDC20 protein, human