APC/C is a large multisubunit complex that consists of at least 10 subunits, APC1, APC2, APC3/CDC27, APC4, APC5, APC6/CDC16, APC8/CDC23, APC10/DOC1, APC11 and APC13, without containing proteins of CDC20 family here. In human, APC/C and CDC20 can form a 13 subunits containing ubiquitin ligase complex responsible for mediating defined cell cycle transitions. For instance, this unusual complex ubiquitin ligase can ubiquitinate and degrade cell-cycle-related proteins like cyclins and securing duiring mitosis and meiosis. Phosphorylation and inhibitors can regulate the APC/C and alter its substrate specificity at different phases of the cell cycle. Such strict control assures accurately timed degradation of critical cell-cycle regulators (1,2).

1. Schreiber, A., Stengel, F., Zhang, Z., Enchev, R.I., Kong, E.H., Morris, E.P., Robinson, C.V., da Fonseca, P.C. and Barford, D. (2011). Structural basis for the subunit assembly of the anaphase-promoting complex. Nature, 470, 227-232. PMID: 21307936

2. Acquaviva, C and Pines, J. (2006). The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome: APC/C. J Cell Sci, 119, 2401-2404. PMID: 16763193