Mark Solomon, PhD
Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
My lab seeks to understand the eukaryotic cell cycle at a biochemical level. To get there, we use a variety of approaches ranging from genetics and “pseudo genetics” in yeast to biochemistry and enzyme assays using cell extracts and purified proteins from yeast and mammalian cells. We focus on two broad areas: Post-translational modification and activation of the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) that control the cell cycle, and ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of cyclins and other proteins by the Anaphase-Promoting Complex and how this proteolysis is controlled by cellular checkpoints. Progressing from genetic identification of components through their study in vitro we hope to achieve a more complete understanding of these macroscopic cellular behaviors.
Research Interests
Cell Cycle; Cell Division; Genetics; Molecular Biology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Cell Nucleus Division
Selected Publications
- Identification of Yeast IQGAP (Iqg1p) as an Anaphase-Promoting-Complex Substrate and Its Role in Actomyosin-Ring-Independent CytokinesisKo N, Nishihama R, Tully GH, Ostapenko D, Solomon MJ, Morgan DO, Pringle JR. Identification of Yeast IQGAP (Iqg1p) as an Anaphase-Promoting-Complex Substrate and Its Role in Actomyosin-Ring-Independent Cytokinesis. Molecular Biology Of The Cell 2007, 18: 5139-5153. PMID: 17942599, PMCID: PMC2096582, DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e07-05-0509.
- Methods in cell cycle researchSolomon M, Cohen-Fix O. Methods in cell cycle research. Methods 2007, 41: 141-142. PMID: 17189855, DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2006.07.021.
- The anaphase-promoting complex: it's not just for mitosis any moreHarper J, Burton J, Solomon M. The anaphase-promoting complex: it's not just for mitosis any more. Genes & Development 2002, 16: 2179-2206. PMID: 12208841, DOI: 10.1101/gad.1013102.
- CAK-independent Activation of CDK6 by a Viral CyclinKaldis P, Ojala P, Tong L, Mäkelä T, Solomon M. CAK-independent Activation of CDK6 by a Viral Cyclin. Molecular Biology Of The Cell 2001, 12: 3987-3999. PMID: 11739795, PMCID: PMC60770, DOI: 10.1091/mbc.12.12.3987.
- The role of Thr160 phosphorylation of Cdk2 in substrate recognitionHolmes J, Solomon M. The role of Thr160 phosphorylation of Cdk2 in substrate recognition. The FEBS Journal 2001, 268: 4647-4653. PMID: 11532001, DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.2001.02392.x.
- Dephosphorylation of Human Cyclin-dependent Kinases by Protein Phosphatase Type 2Cα and β2 Isoforms*Cheng A, Kaldis P, Solomon M. Dephosphorylation of Human Cyclin-dependent Kinases by Protein Phosphatase Type 2Cα and β2 Isoforms*. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2000, 275: 34744-34749. PMID: 10934208, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m006210200.
- Kinetic Analysis of the Cyclin-dependent Kinase-activating Kinase (Cak1p) from Budding Yeast*Enke D, Kaldis P, Solomon M. Kinetic Analysis of the Cyclin-dependent Kinase-activating Kinase (Cak1p) from Budding Yeast*. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2000, 275: 33267-33271. PMID: 10934199, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m004748200.
- The Effects of Changing the Site of Activating Phosphorylation in CDK2 from Threonine to Serine*Kaldis P, Cheng A, Solomon M. The Effects of Changing the Site of Activating Phosphorylation in CDK2 from Threonine to Serine*. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2000, 275: 32578-32584. PMID: 10931829, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m003212200.
- Analysis of CAK activities from human cellsKaldis P, Solomon M. Analysis of CAK activities from human cells. The FEBS Journal 2000, 267: 4213-4221. PMID: 10866826, DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.2000.01455.x.
- Hsl1p, a Swe1p Inhibitor, Is Degraded via the Anaphase-Promoting ComplexBurton J, Solomon M. Hsl1p, a Swe1p Inhibitor, Is Degraded via the Anaphase-Promoting Complex. Molecular And Cellular Biology 2000, 20: 4614-4625. PMID: 10848588, PMCID: PMC85864, DOI: 10.1128/mcb.20.13.4614-4625.2000.
- Activating Phosphorylation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cyclin-dependent Kinase, Cdc28p, Precedes Cyclin BindingRoss K, Kaldis P, Solomon M. Activating Phosphorylation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cyclin-dependent Kinase, Cdc28p, Precedes Cyclin Binding. Molecular Biology Of The Cell 2000, 11: 1597-1609. PMID: 10793138, PMCID: PMC14870, DOI: 10.1091/mbc.11.5.1597.
- Transforming growth factor β targeted inactivation of cyclin E:cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) complexes by inhibition of Cdk2 activating kinase activityNagahara H, Ezhevsky S, Vocero-Akbani A, Kaldis P, Solomon M, Dowdy S. Transforming growth factor β targeted inactivation of cyclin E:cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) complexes by inhibition of Cdk2 activating kinase activity. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 1999, 96: 14961-14966. PMID: 10611320, PMCID: PMC24755, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.26.14961.
- Dephosphorylation of cyclin-dependent kinases by type 2C protein phosphatasesCheng A, Ross K, Kaldis P, Solomon M. Dephosphorylation of cyclin-dependent kinases by type 2C protein phosphatases. Genes & Development 1999, 13: 2946-2957. PMID: 10580002, PMCID: PMC317162, DOI: 10.1101/gad.13.22.2946.
- Activating Phosphorylation of the Kin28p Subunit of Yeast TFIIH by Cak1pKimmelman J, Kaldis P, Hengartner C, Laff G, Koh S, Young R, Solomon M. Activating Phosphorylation of the Kin28p Subunit of Yeast TFIIH by Cak1p. Molecular And Cellular Biology 1999, 19: 4774-4787. PMID: 10373527, PMCID: PMC84276, DOI: 10.1128/mcb.19.7.4774.
- The CDK-activating Kinase (Cak1p) from Budding Yeast Has an Unusual ATP-binding Pocket*Enke D, Kaldis P, Holmes J, Solomon M. The CDK-activating Kinase (Cak1p) from Budding Yeast Has an Unusual ATP-binding Pocket*. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 1999, 274: 1949-1956. PMID: 9890950, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.274.4.1949.
- Localization and regulation of the cdk-activating kinase (Cak1p) from budding yeastKaldis P, Pitluk Z, Bany I, Enke D, Wagner M, Winter E, Solomon M. Localization and regulation of the cdk-activating kinase (Cak1p) from budding yeast. Journal Of Cell Science 1998, 111: 3585-3596. PMID: 9819350, DOI: 10.1242/jcs.111.24.3585.
- Human and Yeast Cdk-activating Kinases (CAKs) Display Distinct Substrate SpecificitiesKaldis P, Russo A, Chou H, Pavletich N, Solomon M. Human and Yeast Cdk-activating Kinases (CAKs) Display Distinct Substrate Specificities. Molecular Biology Of The Cell 1998, 9: 2545-2560. PMID: 9725911, PMCID: PMC25525, DOI: 10.1091/mbc.9.9.2545.
- Cyclin-Stimulated Binding of Cks Proteins to Cyclin-Dependent KinasesEgan E, Solomon M. Cyclin-Stimulated Binding of Cks Proteins to Cyclin-Dependent Kinases. Molecular And Cellular Biology 1998, 18: 3659-3667. PMID: 9632748, PMCID: PMC108948, DOI: 10.1128/mcb.18.7.3659.
- Reduction of Background in Protein Kinase Assays by ElectroblottingEnke D, Solomon M. Reduction of Background in Protein Kinase Assays by Electroblotting. BioTechniques 1997, 22: 74-78. PMID: 8994651, DOI: 10.2144/97221bm15.
- A Predictive Scale for Evaluating Cyclin-dependent Kinase Substrates A COMPARISON OF p34 cdc2 AND p33 cdk2 *Holmes J, Solomon M. A Predictive Scale for Evaluating Cyclin-dependent Kinase Substrates A COMPARISON OF p34 cdc2 AND p33 cdk2 *. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 1996, 271: 25240-25246. PMID: 8810285, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.271.41.25240.
- The Cdk-Activating Kinase (CAK) from Budding YeastKaldis P, Sutton A, Solomon M. The Cdk-Activating Kinase (CAK) from Budding Yeast. Cell 1996, 86: 553-564. PMID: 8752210, DOI: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80129-4.
- KIN28 Encodes a C-Terminal Domain Kinase That Controls mRNA Transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae but Lacks Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-Activating Kinase (CAK) ActivityCismowski M, Laff G, Solomon M, Reed S. KIN28 Encodes a C-Terminal Domain Kinase That Controls mRNA Transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae but Lacks Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-Activating Kinase (CAK) Activity. Molecular And Cellular Biology 1995, 15: 2983-2992. PMID: 7760796, PMCID: PMC230529, DOI: 10.1128/mcb.15.6.2983.
- Inactivation of a Cdk2 inhibitor during interleukin 2-induced proliferation of human T lymphocytes.Firpo E, Koff A, Solomon M, Roberts J. Inactivation of a Cdk2 inhibitor during interleukin 2-induced proliferation of human T lymphocytes. Molecular And Cellular Biology 1994, 14: 4889-4901. PMID: 7516474, PMCID: PMC358861, DOI: 10.1128/mcb.14.7.4889.
- Inactivation of a Cdk2 Inhibitor during Interleukin 2-Induced Proliferation of Human T LymphocytesFirpo E, Koff A, Solomon M, Roberts J. Inactivation of a Cdk2 Inhibitor during Interleukin 2-Induced Proliferation of Human T Lymphocytes. Molecular And Cellular Biology 1994, 14: 4889-4901. DOI: 10.1128/mcb.14.7.4889-4901.1994.
- p27Kip1, a cyclin-Cdk inhibitor, links transforming growth factor-beta and contact inhibition to cell cycle arrest.Polyak K, Kato J, Solomon M, Sherr C, Massague J, Roberts J, Koff A. p27Kip1, a cyclin-Cdk inhibitor, links transforming growth factor-beta and contact inhibition to cell cycle arrest. Genes & Development 1994, 8: 9-22. PMID: 8288131, DOI: 10.1101/gad.8.1.9.
- CAK, the p34cdc2 activating kinase, contains a protein identical or closely related to p40MO15.Solomon M, Harper J, Shuttleworth J. CAK, the p34cdc2 activating kinase, contains a protein identical or closely related to p40MO15. The EMBO Journal 1993, 12: 3133-42. PMID: 8344252, PMCID: PMC413579, DOI: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1993.tb05982.x.
- Phosphorylation independent activation of human cyclin-dependent kinase 2 by cyclin A in vitro.Connell-Crowley L, Solomon M, Wei N, Harper J. Phosphorylation independent activation of human cyclin-dependent kinase 2 by cyclin A in vitro. Molecular Biology Of The Cell 1993, 4: 79-92. PMID: 8443411, PMCID: PMC300902, DOI: 10.1091/mbc.4.1.79.