| Protein Name |
CDK11 |
| Gene |
CDK11A/B |
| UniProt |
Q9UQ88 |
| Molecular Weight |
110 kDa (full-length), 58 kDa (p58 isoform) |
| Length |
795 amino acids (full-length) |
| Subcellular Localization |
Nucleus, Cytoplasm |
| Protein Family |
CDK family, CMGC kinase group |
CDK11 encodes cyclin-dependent kinase 11, a serine/threonine kinase expressed as two isoforms (CDK11A and CDK11B) that are 99% identical at the protein level. CDK11 is unique among CDKs as it is expressed from two separate but highly similar genes. The protein has multiple isoforms generated through alternative translation initiation, including a full-length kinase (p110) and a mitosis-specific isoform (p58).
CDK11 contains the characteristic CDK structure:
- N-terminal cyclin-binding domain — interacts with cyclins L and D
- Kinase domain — serine/threonine protein kinase active site
- C-terminal region — regulatory functions and protein interactions
- Multiple isoforms — p110, p58, p48 from alternative translation
CDK11 functions at multiple cell cycle stages:
- G2/M transition — p58 isoform specifically regulates mitotic entry
- Spindle assembly — phosphorylates microtubule-associated proteins
- Chromosome condensation — histone H3 phosphorylation
- Cell survival — anti-apoptotic phosphorylation events
CDK11 phosphorylates components of:
- RNA polymerase II — transcriptional elongation
- Spliceosome — alternative splicing regulation
- mRNA processing factors — 3' end formation
In neurons, CDK11 regulates:
- Neurite outgrowth — through MAPK pathway activation
- Synapse formation — presynaptic differentiation
- Neuroprotection — Akt and Bcl-2 phosphorylation
- Transcriptional programs — neuronal gene expression
CDK11 dysregulation is prominent in:
- Neuroblastoma — overexpression and amplification
- Lung cancer — particularly in aggressive subtypes
- Various carcinomas — therapeutic target
CDK11's functions have implications for:
- Alzheimer's disease — cell cycle re-entry hypothesis
- ALS — RNA processing defects
- Huntington's disease — transcriptional dysregulation
CDK11 is being explored as a therapeutic target:
- CDK11 inhibitors — being developed for cancer therapy
- Combination approaches — with other targeting therapies
- Selectivity challenges — pan-CDK inhibitor toxicity
- Maratou et al., CDK11 cell cycle functions (2004)
- Chi et al., CDK11 neuronal functions (2008)
- Guo et al., CDK11 in cancer (2010)
- CDC2-like kinases: emerging roles in neuronal function (2020)
- CDK11 in cell cycle and cancer (2019)
- CDK11 and RNA processing in neurons (2021)