WEE1

WEE1 is the archetypal G2 checkpoint kinase, conserved from the fission yeast Wee1 that sets cell size by delaying mitosis. It phosphorylates the inhibitory Tyr15 of CDK1 and CDK2, holding cyclin-CDK complexes inactive until DNA replication and repair are complete, at which point CDC25 phosphatases reverse the mark. DNA damage stabilizes WEE1 through p53 and checkpoint signaling, reinforcing arrest. WEE1 is overexpressed in many tumors, especially those with defective G1 checkpoints such as TP53-mutant cancers, rendering them reliant on the G2 gate. The inhibitor adavosertib exploits this synthetic lethality, validating WEE1 as an anticancer target. Recombinant WEE1 supports these studies.