Cdc2

Cdc2 is one of the components of the maturation promoting factor (MPF) which controls the cell division cycle in yeast. Cdc2 is a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) which, when bound to cyclin B, allows a dividing cell to enter into mitosis from G2 (in the absence of inhibitory proteins such as Wee1). Cdc2 also permits the transition from G1 through S in conjunction with cyclin A and cyclin E.

In humans, the functions of cdc2 are divided between its homologues. Some important ones are CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 (See cyclin-dependent kinase), which associate with different cyclins and regulate stage transitions during the cell cycle.

Other "Cell division cycle" genes (cdc's) are also involved in complex regulatory pathways during the cell cycle. Cdc's were originally discovered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and are followed by a number which signifies the order in which they were discovered (e.g. cdc2, cdc20, cdc25, etc).