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Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols
12:02

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

Published on: June 6, 2017

RNA processing and modification protein, carbon catabolite repression 4 (Ccr4), arrests the cell cycle through

Xia Yi1, Mei Hong, Bin Gui

  • 1Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|May 2, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Carbon catabolite repression 4 domain containing (Ccr4d) protein inhibits cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle at G1 phase. Ccr4d also stabilizes p21 mRNA, suggesting a role in preventing cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The Ccr4 (carbon catabolite repression 4) family regulates mRNA stability and translation.
  • Ccr4d, a novel member, is not involved in mRNA deadenylation, necessitating functional investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the biological function and mechanism of Ccr4d.
  • To investigate Ccr4d's role in cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation.
  • To explore Ccr4d's potential involvement in carcinogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Ccr4d expression in normal and tumor tissues.
  • Cell proliferation assays and cell cycle analysis (G1 arrest).
  • Investigation of Ccr4d's effect on p21 expression and p53-independent pathways.
  • RNA-binding studies focusing on the 3'-UTR of p21 mRNA.

Main Results:

  • Ccr4d is broadly expressed in normal tissues but down-regulated in tumors.
  • Ccr4d inhibits cell proliferation and induces G1 cell cycle arrest.
  • Ccr4d stabilizes p21 mRNA through binding to its 3'-UTR in a p53-independent manner.

Conclusions:

  • Ccr4d acts as an anti-proliferative protein by inducing cell cycle arrest via a p21-dependent pathway.
  • Down-regulation of Ccr4d in tumors suggests its role as a tumor suppressor.
  • Ccr4d may play a significant role in preventing carcinogenesis.

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