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Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells
Published on: January 21, 2012
ALG gene expression and cell cycle progression
M A Kukuruzinska1, K Lennon-Hopkins
1Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Dental Medicine, and Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA. mkukuruz@bu.edu
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|January 8, 1999
Summary
The ALG genes, crucial for protein N-glycosylation, are regulated during cell cycle transitions. Selective downregulation of ALG7 controls cell cycle withdrawal, suggesting conserved roles in mammals.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The ALG genes are essential for the dolichol pathway, a key process in protein N-glycosylation.
- Evidence indicates ALG genes play a significant role in regulating the cell cycle.
- In yeast, ALG gene expression is coordinated and responds to growth stimulation, similar to mammalian early growth response genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of ALG genes in cell cycle regulation.
- To understand the specific function of ALG7 in response to antimitogenic signals and cell cycle arrest.
- To explore the conserved function of ALG genes in eukaryotic cell proliferation and differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of ALG gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
- Study of ALG7 regulation in response to antimitogenic cues.
- Investigation of functional relationships between ALG gene expression and cell cycle phases using mutants.
Main Results:
- Coordinate regulation of ALG genes constitutes the primary genomic response to growth stimulation in yeast.
- Downregulation of ALG7, the first gene in the dolichol pathway, is associated with cell cycle arrest and differentiation.
- ALG7 expression is linked to cell cycle arrest and G1 cyclins have been identified as downstream targets.
Conclusions:
- Selective inhibition of ALG7 is sufficient to regulate the dolichol pathway for cell cycle withdrawal.
- The functions of ALG genes are conserved across eukaryotes, implying similar roles in mammalian cell proliferation and differentiation.
- Understanding ALG gene regulation provides insights into molecular control mechanisms governing cell cycle progression and exit.
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