Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells
12:19

Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells

Published on: January 21, 2012

Proliferation control of mammalian cells by the tumor suppressor IRF-1

M Köster1, S Kirchhoff, F Schaper

  • 1Genetics of Eukaryotes, GBF-Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung mbH, Mascheroder Weg 1, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany.

Cytotechnology
|February 24, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Researchers developed conditional systems to control cell proliferation using Interferon Regulatory Factor 1 (IRF-1). This tumor suppressor

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) is a transcription factor with tumor suppressor properties.
  • IRF-1 regulates genes involved in the interferon response and cell growth.
  • Constitutive overexpression of IRF-1 inhibits mammalian cell proliferation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish conditional systems for controlled IRF-1 expression in mammalian cells.
  • To investigate the dose-dependent effect of IRF-1 on cell growth.
  • To explore the utility of IRF-1 as a regulator of cell proliferation.

Main Methods:

  • Development of two inducible systems for IRF-1 transcription and activation.
  • Utilized an inducible promoter system.
  • Employed a fusion protein of IRF-1 and the human estrogen receptor's hormone-binding domain.
  • Controlled IRF-1 levels using estradiol or tetracycline.

Main Results:

  • Established systems allow for conditional and gradual control of cell proliferation.
  • Cell growth inhibition is dependent on intracellular IRF-1 concentration.
  • Expression of certain proteins and IRF-1-controlled genes is maintained or enhanced.

Conclusions:

  • Conditional IRF-1 expression systems effectively regulate mammalian cell proliferation.
  • IRF-1 acts as a tunable antiproliferative agent.
  • These systems offer precise control over cell growth for research applications.

More Related Videos

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics06:00

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics

Published on: May 14, 2016

Related Concept Videos

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 daughter...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
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.
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...
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...
Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division01:27

Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division

Several external and internal factors influence the initiation and inhibition of cell division. For instance, the death of nearby cells or the release of human growth hormone (hGH) promotes cell division. In contrast, lack of hGH or crowding of cells can inhibit cell division.
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...