Anti-Cyclin O

Cyclin O, also known as CCNO, has recently been identified as a Cdk1- and Cdk2-activating cyclin specific to apoptosis in lymphoid cells. Cyclin O binds to and activates Cdk2 in response to instrinsic apoptotic stimuli such as glucocorticoids or DNA-damaging agents. Supression of Cyclin O expression by shRNA leads to the inhibition of glucocorticoid and DNA-damage-induced apoptosis due to a failure of apical caspase activation while leaving the CD95 death receptor-mediated apoptosis intact. Note: this gene, which had a previous symbol of UNG2, was erroneously identified as a uracil DNA glycosylase. A later publication identified this gene's product as a cyclin protein family member.