Joe William Neame

• BSc (Hons) Biochemistry
• Regulation of CDK1 and CDK2 by the “cyclin-like” protein Spy1

Members of the cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK) family are best known as regulators of the eukaryotic cell cycle. The founding member of the Speedy (Spy)/RINGO family was identified as a protein that is involved in control of the meiotic cell cycle. Spy proteins were subsequently found to bind and activate CDK1/2 suggesting a role in regulating CDK1/2 activity outside of the mitotic cell cycle. The hypothesis to be tested is that Spy1 proteins are an alternative class of CDK activators to cyclins that differ in their affinity for CDK subunits, mechanism of activation, substrate specificity and regulation by inhibitor binding.

Project Supervisor: Prof Jane Endicott, Northern Institute for Cellular Medicine

Funding Source: Newcastle University