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The centrosomal, putative tumor suppressor protein TACC2 is dispensable for normal development, and deficiency does

Michael M Schuendeln1, Roland P Piekorz, Christian Wichmann

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.

Molecular and Cellular Biology
|July 1, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Transforming acidic coiled-coil-containing protein 2 (TACC2) is not essential for mouse development or normal cell proliferation. TACC2 deficiency did not increase tumor incidence, indicating it is not a tumor suppressor protein.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Transforming acidic coiled-coil-containing protein 2 (TACC2) is a protein family member linked to the centrosome-spindle apparatus during cell division.
  • TACC2 gene expression is observed in various splice forms, primarily in postmitotic tissues like the heart, muscle, kidney, and brain.
  • Previous research suggested TACC2 might function as a tumor suppressor protein in human breast cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the physiological role of TACC2 in vivo.
  • To determine if TACC2 is essential for normal mouse development and cell proliferation.
  • To assess the potential tumor suppressor function of TACC2.

Main Methods:

  • Generation of TACC2-deficient mice.
  • Phenotypic analysis of TACC2-deficient mice compared to wild-type controls.
  • Assessment of proliferation, cell cycle progression, and centrosome numbers in TACC2-deficient embryonic fibroblasts.

Main Results:

  • TACC2-deficient mice were viable, developed normally, and were fertile without apparent phenotypic changes.
  • No increased incidence of tumor development was observed in TACC2-deficient mice.
  • TACC2-deficient embryonic fibroblasts exhibited proliferation, cell cycle progression, and centrosome numbers comparable to wild-type cells.

Conclusions:

  • TACC2 is not required for normal mouse development and fertility.
  • TACC2 does not play a nonredundant role in maintaining normal cell proliferation.
  • The study concludes that TACC2 is not a tumor suppressor protein.

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