The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the highlyconserved cyclin family, whose members are characterized by adramatic periodicity in protein abundance through the cell cycle.Cyclins function as positive regulators of cyclin-dependent kinases(CDKs), and thereby play an essential role in the control of thecell cycle. Different cyclins exhibit distinct expression anddegradation patterns, which contribute to the temporal coordinationof each mitotic event. Studies of similar genes in chicken anddrosophila suggest that this cyclin may associate with CDC2 andCDK2 kinases, and may be required for proper spindle reorganizationand restoration of the interphase nucleus. Alternatively splicedtranscript variants encoding different isoforms have been describedfor this gene.