Cyclin D1 inhibits cell proliferation through binding to PCNA and cdk2.

Cyclin D1 is known as a promoting factor for cell growth. We previously showed, however, that the expression of cyclin D1 increases markedly in senescent human fibroblasts in vitro. Here we investigate whether the overexpression of cyclin D1 inhibits cell proliferation. Colony formation after transfection with the cyclin D1 expression vector was repressed in NIH-3T3, TIG-1, CHO-K1, and HeLa cells, compared with those with mock and cyclin E expression vectors. A transient transfection assay demonstrated that the overexpression of cyclin D1 inhibited DNA synthesis of TIG-1 cells. The complexes of cyclin D1 with PCNA and cdk2 increased remarkably in senescent cells, compared with young counterparts. Excessive glutathione S-transferase (GST)-cyclin D1 inhibited DNA replication and repressed cdk2-dependent kinase activity in vitro. DNA synthesis of NIH-3T3 transfectants with PCNA or cdk2 expression vectors was not inhibited by the overexpression of cyclin D1. These results indicate that an excessive level of cyclin D1 represses cell proliferation by inhibiting DNA replication and cdk2 activity through the binding of cyclin D1 to PCNA and cdk2, as it does in senescent cells. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.