Résumé
Cyclin‐dependant kinases play a central role in coordinating cell cycle progression and in sustaining proliferation in cancer cells, thereby constituting attractive molecular targets for the development of anticancer drugs. We have developed a family of peptide and protein‐based fluorescent biosensors to probe the relative abundance and activities of CDK/cyclins in cellulo. CDKSENS and CDKACT sensors were characterized in vitro, then introduced into living cells thanks to cell‐penetrating peptide carriers, thereby allowing for live‐cell imaging of these kinases in their natural environment. In order to probe the relative abundance and activity of CDK‐cyclins, we developed a ratiometric quantification strategy which allows to monitor subtle alterations between different healthy and cancer‐derived cell lines, and which can be further applied to high content screening, and to animal tumour models. This technology offers promising perspectives for development of a non‐invasive diagnostic strategy to monitor the status and response of these intracellular biomarkers to therapeutic treatments. Source of Funding: Grants to MCM Chercheuse d'Avenir Région Languedoc‐Roussillon, ARC and INCA