The phrase "as a key checkpoint" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an important stage or milestone in a process or project.
Example: "We will evaluate our progress as a key checkpoint before moving on to the next phase of the project."
Alternatives: "as a crucial milestone" or "as an important marker".
The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is considered as a key checkpoint to ensure energy balance in both cells and organisms.
A number of recent publications dealing with mechanistic actions of mTORC1 complex provide clear evidence that in addition to its well-established effects it also acts as a key checkpoint in signalling pathways regulating autophagy (Alers et al, 2011).
In metazoans, a transient increase in the ΔΨm is thought to serve as a key checkpoint in determining cell fate, and is correlated with increased production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the mitochondria during apoptosis.
Previous studies have demonstrated that ectopic Bcl2 over-expression in sensitive cell lines prevented the triggering of apoptotic stimuli, thereby supporting the role of the Bax/Bcl-2 rheostat as a key checkpoint [ 27, 28].
Slaughterhouses have also been implicated as a key checkpoint for the detection of pathogens such as Campylobacter [ 22] and Salmonella [ 23, 24], and in case of poor biosecurity could also result in the spread of pathogens between premises where dirty equipment is reused.
PheRS editing provides a key checkpoint in quality control, as mischarged Tyr-tRNAPhe is readily delivered to the ribosome by EF-Tu where it can efficiently decode Phe codons as Tyr in the growing polypeptide chain, resulting in mistranslation (Ling et al., 2007b, 2009).
The groups secured artillery and ammunition, and gained control of a key checkpoint in the town of Tabqa (unknown casualties).
Mad2 is a key checkpoint component that undergoes conformational activation, catalyzed by a Mad1-Mad2 tenrichedenriched at unattached kinetochores [ 5].
The progression from G1 to S is a key checkpoint in protecting the cell from abnormal replication.
Thus, PTEN is a key checkpoint in the Akt signaling pathway and its dysfunction triggers RTKs-dependent oncogenesis.
Earlier reports attributed Chk2 as a key regulatory checkpoint kinase that is phosphorylated at threonine 68 by ATM in response to IR and regulates G2/M transition.
