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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Peptide-based Identification of Functional Motifs and their Binding Partners
Published on: June 30, 2013
The antiproliferative aspects of mortalin (review)
1NATL INST BIOSCI & HUMAN TECHNOL,AGCY IND SCI & TECHNOL,TSUKUBA,IBARAKI 305,JAPAN. HIROSHIMA UNIV,SCH MED,DEPT CELL & MOLEC BIOL,HIROSHIMA 734,JAPAN.
Abstract:
Cellular mortal and immortal phenotypes as defined by the limited and the infinite capacity of cells to divide are the characteristics of normal and cancerous cells in culture. Numerous strategies that have been employed to understand the mechanism(s) of normal as well as tumor cell growth have revealed that these are genetically controlled, however, the genes and the synchronized regulations remain largely undefined so far. The present report reviews the identification of mortalin, a novel member of murine hsp70 family of proteins, as a gene involved in pathways that determine divisional phenotype of cells in vitro. In the present study, the anti-proliferative activity of mortalin is demonstrated also in human skin fibroblasts (TIG-73PD) by microinjection of anti-mortalin antibody. Furthermore, studies on the mortalin immunofluorescence patterns in SV40-immortalized pre-crisis and post-crisis human cells have revealed that the change in the intracellular distribution of mortalin is linked to the change in the divisional phenotype of cells. Thus, the studies to resolve the molecular basis of association of the cytosolically distributed form of mortalin with cellular mortal phenotype would be important in understanding of the mechanism(s) that determine replicative potential of cells in culture.
Insights
Mortalin, a protein in the hsp70 family, influences cell division. Its intracellular distribution changes with cell division capacity, offering insights into cellular mortal and immortal phenotypes.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cellular phenotypes distinguish normal (mortal) and cancerous (immortal) cells based on division capacity.
- Genetic control underlies cell growth, but specific genes and regulations remain unclear.
- Mortalin, a murine hsp70 family protein, is identified as a gene influencing cellular divisional phenotypes in vitro.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mortalin in determining cellular divisional phenotypes.
- To explore the anti-proliferative activity of mortalin in human cells.
- To correlate intracellular mortalin distribution with cellular mortal and immortal phenotypes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on mortalin and cell division.
- Microinjection of anti-mortalin antibody into human skin fibroblasts (TIG-73PD).
- Immunofluorescence studies of mortalin distribution in SV40-immortalized human cells (pre-crisis and post-crisis).
Main Results:
- Anti-mortalin antibody demonstrated anti-proliferative activity in human skin fibroblasts.
- Changes in intracellular mortalin distribution were observed in relation to cellular divisional phenotype.
- A link exists between cytosolically distributed mortalin and the cellular mortal phenotype.
Conclusions:
- Mortalin plays a significant role in regulating cellular division and phenotype.
- Intracellular localization of mortalin is a key factor in determining cell division capacity.
- Further research into the molecular basis of mortalin's association with the mortal phenotype is crucial for understanding cellular replicative potential.
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