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Nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) activates multiple genes with overlapping roles in cell proliferation, inflammation and cancer. Using an unbiased approach we identified human CDK6 as a novel kinase phosphorylating NF-κB p65 at serine 536. Purified and reconstituted CDK6/cyclin complexes phosphorylated p65 in vitro and in transfected cells. The physiological role of CDK6 for basal as well as cytokine-induced p65 phosphorylation or NF-κB activation was revealed upon RNAi-mediated suppression of CDK6. Inhibition of CDK6 catalytic activity by PD332991 suppressed activation of NF-κB and TNF-induced gene expression. In complex with a constitutively active viral cyclin CDK6 stimulated NF-κB p65-mediated transcription in a target gene specific manner and this effect was partially dependent on its ability to phosphorylate p65 at serine 536. Tumor formation in thymi and spleens of v-cyclin transgenic mice correlated with increased levels of p65 Ser536 phosphorylation, increased expression of CDK6 and upregulaton of the NF-κB target cyclin D3. These results suggest that aberrant CDK6 expression or activation that is frequently observed in human tumors can contribute through NF-κB to chronic inflammation and neoplasia.

Original publication

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0051847

Type

Journal article

Journal

PLoS One

Publication Date

2012

Volume

7

Keywords

Animals, Apoptosis, Cell Nucleus, Cell Proliferation, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, HeLa Cells, Humans, I-kappa B Proteins, Immunoblotting, Inflammation, Lymphocytes, Mice, Mice, Transgenic, NF-kappa B, Phosphorylation, RNA, Small Interfering, Serine, Splenic Neoplasms, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Thymus Neoplasms, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha