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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
12:02
Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols
Published on: June 6, 2017
Genome-wide functional analysis of human cell-cycle regulators.
Mridul Mukherji1, Russell Bell, Lubica Supekova
1The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, and Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Summary
This study identified 1,152 genes regulating the human cell cycle, revealing new insights into cell division and potential cancer therapies. The research provides a systems-level view of cell-cycle control mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The cell cycle is a fundamental process in human cells, crucial for growth and development.
- Understanding the genes and pathways governing cell-cycle progression is essential for comprehending cellular functions and diseases like cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a genome-wide analysis of human cell-cycle regulation, cell size, and proliferation.
- To identify novel genes and pathways involved in cell-cycle control.
Main Methods:
- Utilized small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to target over 95% of human protein-coding genes.
- Performed quantitative fluorescence microscopy to analyze over 2 million images.
- Integrated identified genes with interaction databases to construct phase-specific networks.
Main Results:
- Depletion of 1,152 genes significantly impacted cell-cycle progression, categorized into eight distinct phenotypic groups.
- Identified key regulators including kinases, phosphatases, and proteolytic proteins.
- Discovered that G1-S phase regulators also influence G2/M transition and identified a novel role for TNF/NF-kappaB signaling in G2/M regulation.
Conclusions:
- Provided systems-level insights into known and novel genes and pathways regulating the cell cycle.
- Highlighted potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment based on identified cell-cycle regulators.
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