Polo-like Kinase (PLK)

Polo-like kinase (PLK) is a family of serine/threonine protein kinases that play key roles in various stages of cell division, including mitosis and cytokinesis. The family includes several members, with PLK1 being the most studied due to its critical function in initiating and regulating mitosis through the phosphorylation of target proteins involved in spindle formation, chromosome segregation, and mitotic entry. Overexpression of PLK1 is commonly associated with several types of cancers, where it promotes cell proliferation and survival. Given its pivotal role in cell cycle regulation, PLK has become a significant target in cancer therapy, with inhibitors being developed to disrupt its activity and block cancer cell division, potentially leading to tumor regression.