CDKN3 Protein

CDKN3 is a member of the dual specificity protein phosphatase family that acts as a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (1). CDKN3 has been shown to interact with and dephosphorylate specifically the CDK2 kinase thereby preventing it’s activation. CDKN3 has been reported to be deleted, mutated, or overexpressed in several kinds of cancers. Increased expression of CDKN3 leads to increased levels of kinase-associated phosphatase activity that inhibits the G(1)/S transition of the cell cycle by dephosphorylating the cyclin-dependent kinases (2).