RESEARCH BRIEFINGS

28 October 2026

A previously unknown mechanism required for cells to start proliferating has been identified. A combination of mathematical modelling and cell-based experiments shows that the enzyme WEE1 switches off a protein-degradation complex to allow cell proliferation to start, with implications for WEE1 inhibitors currently in trials for cancer treatments.

This is a summary of: Vuillemenot, L.-A. et al . WEE1 opposes APC/C CDH1 activity to promote S phase entry. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-11188-x (2026) .

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-03288-5

‘Expert opinion’ and the figure are published under a CC BY 4.0 licence.

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