Final answer:
Wee1 kinase is a Cdk inhibitor that adds inhibitory phosphate groups to Cdks, thus delaying cell cycle progression until the cell meets certain conditions, at which point the inhibitory phosphates are removed and the cell progresses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wee1 kinase regulates cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) by acting as a Cdk inhibitor, which adds inhibitory phosphate groups to the Cdks. This phosphorylation negatively regulates Cdk activity, thereby preventing the premature activation of the Cdk/cyclin complexes that are essential for cell cycle progression. As a result, Wee1 kinase plays a critical role in ensuring that a cell only advances to the next phase of the cell cycle once certain conditions are met, such as the proper replication of DNA. Once the cell is ready to progress, the inhibitory phosphates added by Wee1 are removed by the enzyme Cdc25, leading to activation of the Cdk/cyclin complex and subsequent cell cycle progression.