Senescence was classically defined as an irreversible cell cycle arrest in G1 phase (G1 exit) triggered by eroded telomeres in aged primary cells. The molecular basis of this G1 arrest is thought to be due to a DNA damage response, resulting in accumulation of the cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors p21 and p16 that block the inactivating phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor pRb, thereby preventing DNA replication. More than a decade ago, several studies showed that p21 also mediates permanent DNA damage-induced cell cycle arrest in G2 (G2 exit) by inhibiting mitotic Cdk complexes and pRb phosphorylation. The idea that the senescence program can also be launched after G2 arrest has gained support from several recent publications, including evidence for its existence in vivo.
Keywords: Cdk inhibitors; DNA damage; G2/M checkpoint; p53; pRb; senescence; telomeres.