A CDK1 phosphorylation state identifies modified amino acid residues. Different sites have opposite effects: in studied Xenopus laevis Cdc2, Thr14/Tyr15 are inhibitory, while Thr161 phosphorylation is activating. T denotes a threonine residue, Y a tyrosine residue, and numbers are protein primary structure positions. Do not assume this numbering for every species.[ref]
The 1992 study supplies a useful separation of mechanisms: replacing Thr14, Tyr15 and Thr161 still permitted cyclin B binding, but replacing Thr161 prevented activation of histone H1 phosphorylation. Binding therefore did not suffice for catalytic activity in that preparation. Activating phosphorylation also occurred with catalytically inactive Cdc2, supporting a separate CDK-activating kinase rather than a requirement for intramolecular autophosphorylation.[ref]
Figure 1.
Cyclin B binding and site-specific CDK1 phosphorylation states answer different questions
. Original qualitative schematic for the studied Xenopus laevis Cdc2. All four right-hand boxes contain bound cyclin B; only the green box has activating Thr161 phosphorylation with both inhibitory sites clear. “Inhibitory P present” groups Thr14 and/or Tyr15 modification. Arrows show changes of state, not an obligatory sequence, measured rates, or a complete cell cycle model. Myt1 can add either inhibitory modification; Cdc25 removes inhibitory phosphate groups. Details.
In this deliberately coarse classification, bound cyclin B, activating phosphorylation, and cleared inhibitory sites must coincide for the activity-permissive state. Removing inhibitory phosphate groups does not supply missing cyclin B or activating phosphorylation. Conversely, adding activating phosphorylation does not erase inhibitory modification. Actual preparations contain mixtures of states and additional regulators; this classification gives no numerical reaction rate.
PDGFR is a receptor tyrosine kinase; its key ligand-induced autophosphorylation is on tyrosine residues. Ras-PST25 recognizes phosphorylated serine residues and threonine residues, so it is not the appropriate reagent to detect the characteristic activated PDGFR phosphotyrosines. Use a phosphotyrosine or validated phospho-PDGFR antibody, ideally alongside total PDGFR. The larger receptor may also require a different gel and transfer range, but changing the size range alone would not correct the epitope mismatch.
Protein kinase C 2026-11-05
Protein kinase C is a family of protein kinases that transfers phosphate from ATP to selected serine residues or threonine residues in target proteins. Conventional members integrate calcium ion and diacylglycerol signals with membrane association, while other family members have different activation requirements. A statement about one isoform should not be assumed to describe every member. [ref]
A useful pathway example begins with activation of phospholipase C, which produces diacylglycerol and an inositol-phosphate signal that releases stored calcium ions. These signals can cooperate to recruit and activate a conventional protein kinase C. The downstream phosphorylation then changes target behaviour; a rise in calcium is not itself the phosphorylation reaction. [ref]
Threonine residue Created 2026-10-14 Updated 2026-11-05
A threonine residue is a threonine unit incorporated into a peptide or protein chain, conventionally represented by T. Its hydroxyl-bearing side chain can participate in hydrogen bonding and can be phosphorylated by suitable protein kinases. The side chain is retained during peptide-bond formation, while the amino and carboxyl groups become part of the backbone. Residue identity and modification state are therefore distinct information. [ref]