Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics
06:00

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics

Published on: May 14, 2016

Tumor cell dependence on Ran-GTP-directed mitosis

Fang Xia1, Connie W Lee, Dario C Altieri

  • 1Department of Cancer Biology, Cancer Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.

Cancer Research
|March 15, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells rely on the small GTPase Ran for cell division. Silencing Ran causes cancer cell death without harming normal cells, suggesting Ran as a potential anticancer target.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Deregulated cell division is a key characteristic of cancer.
  • The specific mitotic mechanisms tumor cells depend on remain largely unknown.
  • The role of the small GTPase Ran in cancer cell division requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the small GTPase Ran in cancer cell division.
  • To determine if tumor cells become dependent on Ran signaling for mitosis.
  • To explore the potential of targeting Ran as a selective anticancer strategy.

Main Methods:

  • Differential expression analysis of Ran in human cancer versus normal tissues.
  • Acute silencing of Ran in various tumor cell types.
  • Assessment of mitotic spindle formation, mitochondrial function, and apoptosis.
  • Investigation of the involvement of p53, Bax, Smac, and survivin.

Main Results:

  • Ran is differentially overexpressed in human cancers compared to normal tissues.
  • Acute Ran silencing in tumor cells leads to aberrant mitosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis.
  • This Ran-dependent pathway is independent of p53, Bax, and Smac.
  • Survivin is identified as a novel Ran target in cancer cells.
  • Normal cells tolerate loss of Ran without adverse effects on viability or mitosis.

Conclusions:

  • Tumor cells exhibit a dependency on Ran signaling for successful cell division.
  • Targeting the Ran pathway presents a promising strategy for developing novel and selective cancer therapies.

More Related Videos

Long-term Live-cell Imaging to Assess Cell Fate in Response to Paclitaxel08:29

Long-term Live-cell Imaging to Assess Cell Fate in Response to Paclitaxel

Published on: May 14, 2018

Live Imaging of Microtubule Dynamics in Glioblastoma Cells Invading the Zebrafish Brain09:29

Live Imaging of Microtubule Dynamics in Glioblastoma Cells Invading the Zebrafish Brain

Published on: July 29, 2022

Related Concept Videos

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
The Ras Gene02:38

The Ras Gene

The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a superfamily...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...