Cyclin D/CDK4/CDK enables G1/S transition, cyclin E/CDK2 does the same. Can someone tell me, if both are needed or one of them will be enough to get cells to S? Thank you. Dan
This is a quite complicated topic with hundreds of research reports analyzing cyclin requirements in various cell systems. Assuming an unperturbed cell cycle, Cyclin D acts upstream of the Cyclin E enabling the initiation of the cell cycle (G0/G1 transition), Cyclin E then stimulates entry into the S-phase (G1/S transition). However, there are compensatory mechanisms so that cells with Cyclin D or Cyclin E knockout might still be able to proliferate.
Here are some nice reviews as a starting point:
Article Living with or without cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases
Article Mammalian cell-cycle regulation: several Cdks, numerous cycl...