Mitotic CDK4/6 activity sustains spindle checkpoint signalling to prevent mitotic slippage and genomic instability

Abstract

The precise regulation of cell cycle entry and the maintenance of genome integrity are crucial for preventing tumorigenesis. Cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) play pivotal roles in linking mitogenic signals to G1-S phase progression1-3, and their frequent deregulation in various cancers underscores their importance in driving cell proliferation and as therapeutic targets4,5. Despite this, the roles of CDK4/6 beyond the G1/S transition remain underexplored. Here, we uncover a previously unrecognised function of CDK4/6 in mitotic progression through regulation of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC)6. Using both cancer and non-transformed human cells, we show that acute CDK4/6 inhibition after G1/S transition leads to premature mitotic exit despite unattached kinetochores, resulting in chromosome missegregation and aneuploidy. Phosphoproteomic analyses and in vitro kinase assays reveal that CDK4 phosphorylates multiple sites on key SAC regulators, including the C-terminal tail of CENP-E, which is critical for BubR1 recruitment to kinetochores and SAC maintenance7,8. CDK4/6 inhibition reduces the phosphorylation of SAC components, attenuating checkpoint signalling and accelerating mitotic slippage. Notably, residual SAC activity persists, suggesting that CDK4/6 strengthens or stabilises SAC signalling rather than being essential for its activation. Thus, CDK4/6 functions extend beyond G1/S control to ensure mitotic fidelity, linking proliferating signals to genome stability and exposing potential vulnerabilities to anti-mitotic therapies in cancer.