Overview:

CDK6 is a member of the cyclin-dependent family of protein kinases that are important regulators of cell cycle progression. CDK6 activity is regulated by the D-type cyclins and members of the INK4 family of CDK inhibitors (1). The CDK6 kinase activity is detected in mid-G1 phase of the cell cycle and is responsible for the phosphorylation and regulation of the activity of tumor suppressor protein Rb. Although CDK6 and CDK4 can both phosphorylate multiple residues in the Rb protein, they do so with different residue selectivities in vitro; CDK6 phosphorylates Thr821 while CDK4 phosphorylates Thr826 on Rb protein (2).

Gene Aliases:

CDK6: PLSTIRE, MGC59692, STQTL11
CyclinD3: CCND3

Genbank Number:

NM_001259
NM_001760

References:

1. Meyerson, M. et al: Identification of G1 kinase activity for cdk6, a novel cyclin D partner. Molec. Cell. Biol. 14: 2077-2086, 1994.

2. Takaki, T. et al: Preferences for phosphorylation sites in the retinoblastoma protein of D-type cyclin-dependent kinases, Cdk4 and Cdk6, in vitro. J Biochem. 2005 Mar;137(3):381-6.