*Plk1 is shown to phosphorylate Wee1A, an event that is likely critical for recognition and ubiquitination of Wee1A by SCF and therefore for the subsequent degradation of Wee1A . **Plk1 phosphorylates Wee1A at S53, creating the second phosphodegron, PD53. ** Evidence also exists in budding yeast that the budding yeast polo homolog Cdc5 directly phosphorylates and down-regulate the budding yeast Wee1 ortholog Swe1. Thus, polo kinase-dependent phosphorylation and degradation of Wee1A (or Swe1) is likely conserved throughout evolution and is critical for normal mitotic entry. [Coleman & Tang 1993, Parker et al 1993]