Requirement for Src family protein tyrosine kinases in G₂ for fibroblast cell division

The protein tyrosine kinase c-Src is transiently activated at the transition from the G₂ phase to mitosis in the cell cycle of mammalian fibroblasts. Fyn and Yes, the other members of the Src family present in fibroblasts, were also found to be activated at mitosis. In cells microinjected with a neutralizing antibody specific for Src, Fyn, and Yes (anti-cst.1) during G₂, cell division was inhibited by 75 percent. The block occurred before nuclear envelope breakdown. Antibodies specific for phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase α and phospholipase C-γ1 had no effect. Microinjection of the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain of Fyn was also inhibitory. Functional redundancy between members of the Src family was observed; a Src-specific antibody had no effect in NIH 3T3 cells but inhibited cell division in fibroblasts in which the only functional Src family kinase was Src itself. Thus, Src family kinases and proteins associating with their SH2 domains are required for entry into mitosis.