p27Kip1, an Intrinsically Unstructured Protein with Scaffold Properties

The Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) regulator p27(Kip1) is a gatekeeper of G1/S transition. It also regulates G2/M progression and cytokinesis completion, via CDK-dependent or -independent mechanisms. Recently, other important p27(Kip1) functions have been described, including the regulation of cell motility and migration, the control of cell differentiation program and the activation of apoptosis/autophagy. Several factors modulate p27(Kip1) activities, including its level, cellular localization and post-translational modifications. As a matter of fact, the protein is phosphorylated, ubiquitinated, SUMOylated, O-linked N-acetylglicosylated and acetylated on different residues. p27(Kip1) belongs to the family of the intrinsically unstructured proteins and thus it is endowed with a large flexibility and numerous interactors, only partially identified. In this review, we look at p27(Kip1) properties and ascribe part of its heterogeneous functions to the ability to act as an anchor or scaffold capable to participate in the construction of different platforms for modulating cell response to extracellular signals and allowing adaptation to environmental changes.