When a cell proliferates out of control, it is usually because it loses control at a cell cycle checkpoint – the ‘fail-safe brakes’ of the cell.
One key checkpoint protein is p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) that gives the ‘all signals go’ for DNA synthesis to take place.
Dr. Sameer Phalke and colleagues at the A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) recently discovered a protein that acts as an oncogene in breast cancer by repressing p21 expression, thereby promoting growth and preventing the senescence of breast cancer cells1.
Suppression of PRMT6 expression in breast cancer cells led to cell cycle arrest, cellular senescence, and reduced growth in soft agar assays. Similar experiments in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice resulted in slower growing tumors.
Source: http://www.asianscientist.com/health-medicine/prmt6-suppression-linked-to-breast-cancer-2012/
No comments:
Post a Comment