Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

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

Myocardin related transcription factors are required for coordinated cell cycle progression

Dmitry Shaposhnikov1, Christian Kuffer, Zuzana Storchova

  • 1Gene Regulation Lab, Institute for Physiological Chemistry, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg; Halle (Saale), Germany.

Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|May 10, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Myocardin related transcription factors (MRTFs) are crucial for normal cell cycle progression and genomic stability in fibroblasts. Depleting MRTFs disrupts cell division and leads to aneuploidy and polyploidy.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Myocardin related transcription factors (MRTFs) regulate gene expression in response to Rho signaling and actin dynamics.
  • MRTFs have been linked to anti-proliferative effects, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of MRTF-A and MRTF-B in cell cycle progression and genomic stability.
  • To elucidate the precise mechanisms by which MRTFs influence fibroblast proliferation.

Main Methods:

  • Double knockdown of MRTF-A and MRTF-B in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.
  • Analysis of cell cycle progression using flow cytometry.
  • Assessment of genomic stability through micronuclei formation and ploidy analysis.

Main Results:

  • Transient MRTF depletion caused a shortened G1 phase and extended S and G2 phases.
  • Serum starvation with MRTF depletion led to aberrant cell cycle entry without division.
  • Downregulation of p27Kip1, p18Ink4c, and 19Ink4d, and upregulation of p21Waf1 and cyclin D1 were observed.
  • Extended MRTF knockdown resulted in micronuclei formation, aneuploidy, and polyploidy.

Conclusions:

  • MRTFs are essential for accurate cell cycle progression in fibroblasts.
  • MRTFs play a critical role in maintaining genomic stability.
  • Disruption of MRTF function leads to cell cycle dysregulation and chromosomal abnormalities.
Keywords:
Mrtfactinaneuploidyapoptosisp27Kip1transcription

More Related Videos

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis08:33

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis

Published on: December 5, 2017

Inherent Dynamics Visualizer, an Interactive Application for Evaluating and Visualizing Outputs from a Gene Regulatory Network Inference Pipeline10:44

Inherent Dynamics Visualizer, an Interactive Application for Evaluating and Visualizing Outputs from a Gene Regulatory Network Inference Pipeline

Published on: December 7, 2021

Related Concept Videos

The Cell Cycle Control System01:28

The Cell Cycle Control System

The cell cycle regulation directs how a cell proceeds from one phase to the next and begins mitosis. The cell cycle control system includes intracellular regulatory molecules and external triggers. They provide "stop" or "advance" signals and operate at specific cell cycle stages termed checkpoints to ensure that a particular process is completed before the cell advances to the next phase.
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
The Cell Cycle Control System02:11

The Cell Cycle Control System

The cell cycle is an organized set of events that leads the cell to divide into two daughter cells, each containing chromosomes identical to the parent cell. It is the cell cycle that leads to the formation of an entire organism from a single-cell zygote. Besides, cell division also functions in the renewal or repair of tissues in adult multicellular eukaryotes. For example, in the bone marrow, the stem cells divide to form new blood cells. Although essential for several functions, cell...
The Cell Cycle Control System02:11

The Cell Cycle Control System

The cell cycle is an organized set of events that leads the cell to divide into two daughter cells, each containing chromosomes identical to the parent cell. It is the cell cycle that leads to the formation of an entire organism from a single-cell zygote. Besides, cell division also functions in the renewal or repair of tissues in adult multicellular eukaryotes. For example, in the bone marrow, the stem cells divide to form new blood cells. Although essential for several functions, cell...
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...
Positive Regulator Molecules02:39

Positive Regulator Molecules

Mitotic cell division results in daughter cells that exactly resemble the parent cell. However, errors in the DNA replication or distribution of genetic material may lead to genetic mutations that may be passed down to every new cell formed from the resulting abnormal cell. Propagation of such mutant cells is restricted through checkpoint mechanisms present at different stages of the cell cycle. These checkpoints involve regulator molecules that either promote or demote cell cycle events.