Abstract: Objective To study the roles of a cell cycle regulator Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) in erythroid differentiation of K562 cells.Methods K562 cells were transfected with the construct expressing CDK2 and siRNAs specifically targeting CDK2, respectively. The effects of over-expression or knocking-down of CDK2 were examined by Western blot. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to detect the levels ofγ-globin mRNA expression. The benzidine staining assay was used to access the differentiation state of K562 cells. Results CDK2 was up-regulated at the early stage of K562 erythroid differentiation. Over-expression of CDK2 in K562 cells accelerated erythroid differentiation, in contrast, inhibition of CDK2 attenuates globin accumulation in K562 cells.Conclusion CDK2 is required for early erythroid differentiation of K562 cells.

Key words: CDK2, K562, γ-globin, erythroid differentiation