Question

What is the role of cyclin-dependent kinases in the cell cycle?

Question 5 options:

They stop the cycle if something has gone wrong.

They catalyze the condensation of the chromosomes.

They provide the energy for the actions of the spindle fibers.

They initiate various stages of the cell cycle.

Answer 1

They initiate various stages of the cell cycle.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cyclins and cyclin-dependent protein kinases function to control the cell cycle. A group of cyclins: the G1 cyclins, are synthesized during G1 phase and function to activate CDPKs which initiate DNA synthesis at the G1/S checkpoint. The cell fails to progress to S phase if there is no sufficient synthesis of G1 cyclins. After a cell passes through this point, the G1 cyclins are degraded, allowing for another group of cyclins: the M cyclins to be synthesized. M cyclins activate a second group of CDPKs which allow the cell to pass the G2/M control point and into mitosis.