p107 in the public eye: an Rb understudy and more
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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells
Published on: January 21, 2012
1Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, Stanford Medical School, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. julsage@stanford.edu.
Abstract:
p107 and its related family members Rb and p130 are critical regulators of cellular proliferation and tumorigenesis. Due to the extent of functional overlap within the Rb family, it has been difficult to assess which functions are exclusive to individual members and which are shared. Like its family members, p107 can bind a variety of cellular proteins to affect the expression of many target genes during cell cycle progression. Unlike Rb and p130, p107 is most highly expressed during the G1 to S phase transition of the cell cycle in actively dividing cells and accumulating evidence suggests a role for p107 during DNA replication. The specific roles for p107 during differentiation and development are less clear, although emerging studies suggest that it can cooperate with other Rb family members to control differentiation in multiple cell lineages. As a tumor suppressor, p107 is not as potent as Rb, yet studies in knockout mice have revealed some tumor suppressor functions in mice, depending on the context. In this review, we identify the unique and overlapping functions of p107 during the cell cycle, differentiation, and tumorigenesis.
Insights
The retinoblastoma (Rb) family protein p107 uniquely regulates cell cycle progression, DNA replication, and differentiation. This review clarifies p107
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- The retinoblastoma (Rb) protein family, including Rb, p107, and p130, are crucial regulators of cell proliferation and tumor development.
- Functional overlap among Rb family members complicates the understanding of individual protein roles.
- p107's specific functions, distinct from Rb and p130, require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and identify the unique and overlapping functions of p107.
- To explore p107's roles in cell cycle regulation, DNA replication, differentiation, and tumorigenesis.
- To provide a comprehensive understanding of p107's contribution to cellular processes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on p107 and its family members.
- Analysis of data from cell cycle studies, differentiation models, and knockout mouse experiments.
- Comparative analysis of p107 functions against Rb and p130.
Main Results:
- p107 is highly expressed during the G1 to S phase transition, suggesting a role in DNA replication.
- Emerging evidence indicates p107 cooperates with other Rb family members in controlling differentiation.
- While less potent than Rb, p107 exhibits context-dependent tumor suppressor functions in mice.
Conclusions:
- p107 possesses unique functions in cell cycle progression and DNA replication.
- p107 plays a collaborative role with Rb and p130 in differentiation and development.
- Understanding p107's specific roles is vital for comprehending cellular regulation and tumorigenesis.
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