Open AccessCDK12: cellular functions and therapeutic potential of versatile player in cancer
Author(s) -
Květa Pilařová,
Jan Herudek,
Dalibor Blažek
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nar cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2632-8674
DOI - 10.1093/narcan/zcaa003
Subject(s) - biology , cancer research , gene , genome instability , cyclin dependent kinase , phenotype , dna damage , genetics , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , bioinformatics , cell cycle , dna
Abstract Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) phosphorylates the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II and is needed for the optimal transcription elongation and translation of a subset of human protein-coding genes. The kinase has a pleiotropic effect on the maintenance of genome stability, and its inactivation in prostate and ovarian tumours results in focal tandem duplications, a CDK12-unique genome instability phenotype. CDK12 aberrations were found in many other malignancies and have the potential to be used as biomarkers for therapeutic intervention. Moreover, the inhibition of CDK12 emerges as a promising strategy for treatment in several types of cancers. In this review, we summarize mechanisms that CDK12 utilizes for the regulation of gene expression and discuss how the perturbation of CDK12-sensitive genes contributes to the disruption of cell cycle progression and the onset of genome instability. Furthermore, we describe tumour-suppressive and oncogenic functions of CDK12 and its potential as a biomarker and inhibition target in anti-tumour treatments.