PITSLRE

Cyclin-dependent kinase PITSLRE (CDK11) is a serine/threonine kinase family member that regulates fundamental cellular processes including RNA transcription, RNA splicing, cell-cycle progression, apoptosis, and mitotic events^[1][2]. CDK11 functions within transcriptional and RNA-processing machinery, where it associates with cyclin L proteins, interacts with RNA polymerase II, and contributes to the coordination of transcription and pre-mRNA processing^[1][3][4]. Mechanistically, CDK11 participates in transcription initiation and elongation and modulates alternative splicing through interactions with multiple transcription regulators and splicing factors^[1][3]. Beyond transcriptional regulation, CDK11 contributes to mitosis, cytokinesis, sister chromatid cohesion, and apoptotic signaling, indicating a broad role in maintaining cellular homeostasis^[2][5][6]. In disease settings, elevated CDK11 expression has been associated with the growth and proliferation of multiple human cancers, and experimental suppression of CDK11 induces cancer cell death and apoptosis, supporting its relevance as a therapeutic target^[1][7]. Compared with related CDK family members, CDK11 is distinguished by its strong involvement in RNA processing and splicing in addition to cell-cycle regulation^[1][4]. Distinct isoforms further contribute to functional specialization: CDK11^p110^ primarily regulates transcription and RNA splicing, CDK11^p58^ participates in mitotic control, and CDK11^p46^ is linked to apoptosis-associated processes^[4][5]. For experimental applications, CDK11 has been investigated as a candidate target for kinase-directed cancer research, although selective CDK11 inhibitors remain less developed than inhibitors targeting other CDK family members^[1].

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