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| Figure 1: The lifecycle of Cdk5. Cdk5 kinase activity is initiated by binding to the myristoylated regulatory subunit, p35. Myristoylation links Cdk5/p35 to the plasma membrane, limiting the action of the complex to specific cellular compartments. Cdk5/p35 autophosphorylates, leads to ubiquitylation and degradation. Alternatively, p35 can be cleaved by calpain in response to elevated cytosolic Ca+2 to produce Cdk5/p25. This form is resistant to degradation, and it lacks the myristoylation site, allowing the complex to dissociate from the membrane and interact with different targets. |
