Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Integration of Bioinformatics Approaches and Experimental Validations to Understand the Role of Notch Signaling in Ovarian Cancer
09:08

Integration of Bioinformatics Approaches and Experimental Validations to Understand the Role of Notch Signaling in Ovarian Cancer

Published on: January 12, 2020

Protein kinases controlling PCNA and p53 expression in human ovarian cells

Alexander V Sirotkin1, Dmitriy Ovcharenko, Andrej Benco

  • 1Research Institute of Animal Production, Slovak Centre of Agricultural Studies, Nitra, Slovakia. sirotkin@scpv.sk

Functional & Integrative Genomics
|December 11, 2008
PubMed

Insights

This study identified novel protein kinases (PKs) regulating ovarian cell proliferation and apoptosis markers, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p53. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology effectively identified new PKs controlling these crucial cellular functions.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p53 are key markers for cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively.
  • Understanding the protein kinases (PKs) that regulate PCNA and p53 expression is crucial for comprehending ovarian cell function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel protein kinases (PKs) involved in regulating the expression of PCNA and p53 in human ovarian granulosa cells.
  • To utilize small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology for functional screening of PKs impacting ovarian cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Main Methods:

  • A library of 264 small interfering RNA (siRNA) constructs targeting 88 known protein kinases (PKs) was used.
  • Transfection efficiency and target gene knockdown were confirmed using fluorescent microscopy, RT-PCR, and immunocytochemistry.
  • Expression levels of PCNA and p53 were assessed via immunocytochemistry before and after siRNA-mediated PK knockdown.

Main Results:

  • siRNA knockdown successfully suppressed target PK expression by up to 84%.
  • Knockdown of 32 PKs inhibited PCNA expression, while 7 PKs stimulated it.
  • Knockdown of 30 PKs reduced p53 expression, and 5 PKs enhanced it.

Conclusions:

  • Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a valuable tool for dissecting the roles of protein kinases (PKs) in ovarian cell proliferation and apoptosis.
  • This study identified several previously unrecognized PKs that regulate PCNA and p53 expression in human ovarian cells.
  • The findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling ovarian cell fate.

More Related Videos

Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols12:02

Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols

Published on: June 6, 2017

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P5314:57

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53

Published on: August 4, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Negative Regulator Molecules01:23

Negative Regulator Molecules

Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
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...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
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...
DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...