Polo-like kinase 1, on the rise from cell cycle regulation to prostate cancer development

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), a well-characterized member of serine/threonine kinases Plk family, has been shown to play pivotal roles in mitosis and cytokinesis in eukaryotic cells. Recent studies suggest that Plk1 not only controls the process of mitosis and cytokinesis, but also, going beyond those previously described functions, plays critical roles in DNA replication and Pten null prostate cancer initiation. In this review, we briefly summarize the functions of Plk1 in mitosis and cytokinesis, and then mainly focus on newly discovered functions of Plk1 in DNA replication and in Pten-null prostate cancer initiation. Furthermore, we briefly introduce the architectures of human and mouse prostate glands and the possible roles of Plk1 in human prostate cancer development. And finally, the newly chemotherapeutic development of small-molecule Plk1 inhibitors to target Plk1 in cancer treatment and their translational studies are also briefly reviewed.