Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 3, 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

28.7K

The p53-p21-DREAM-CDE/CHR pathway regulates G2/M cell cycle genes

Martin Fischer1, Marianne Quaas1, Lydia Steiner2

  • 1Molecular Oncology, Medical School, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Nucleic Acids Research
|September 20, 2015
PubMed

Insights

The tumor suppressor p53 regulates cell cycle genes via the p53-p21-DREAM-CDE/CHR pathway. This pathway is a key mechanism for p53-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The tumor suppressor p53 is a transcription factor controlling cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
  • p53 indirectly represses cell cycle genes (e.g., CCNB2, KIF23, PLK4) via the p53-p21-DREAM-CDE/CHR pathway.
  • The prevalence of this regulatory pathway remained largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify genes regulated by p53 through the p53-p21-DREAM-CDE/CHR pathway on a genome-wide scale.
  • To determine if this pathway is a principal mechanism for p53-mediated G2/M cell cycle arrest.

Main Methods:

  • Genome-wide computational analysis integrating DREAM complex binding data, p53-dependent mRNA expression data, and conserved CHR promoter elements.
  • Bioinformatic identification of potential target genes.
  • Experimental validation of p53-dependent repression for specific cell cycle genes (e.g., MYBL2, BUB1, CCNA2).

Main Results:

  • Identified 210 target genes regulated by the p53-p21-DREAM-CDE/CHR pathway.
  • Confirmed p53-dependent repression of key cell cycle genes including MYBL2, BUB1, CCNA2, CCNB1, CHEK2, MELK, POLD1, RAD18, and RAD54L.
  • The majority of the 210 identified genes are critical for G2 phase and mitosis regulation.

Conclusions:

  • The p53-p21-DREAM-CDE/CHR pathway is a significant mechanism by which p53 regulates gene expression.
  • Downregulation of essential G2/M regulators via this pathway is a principal mechanism for p53-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest.

More Related Videos

Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells12:19

Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells

Published on: January 21, 2012

61.6K
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

10.2K

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.
39.0K
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...
3.4K
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...
10.4K
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...
5.4K
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...
6.2K
Inhibition of CDK Activity02:34

Inhibition of CDK Activity

5.7K