The Retinoblastoma Gene Family in Cell Cycle Regulation and Suppression of Tumorigenesis
Abstract
Since its discovery in 1986, as the first tumor suppressor gene, the retinoblastoma gene (Rb) has been extensively studied. Numerous biochemical and genetic studies have elucidated in great detail the function of the Rb gene and placed it at the heart of the molecular machinery controlling the cell cycle. As more insight was gained into the genetic events required for oncogenic transformation, it became clear that the retinoblastoma gene is connected to biochemical pathways that are dysfunctional in virtually all tumor types. Besides regulating the E2F transcription factors, pRb is involved in numerous biological processes such as apoptosis, DNA repair, chromatin modification, and differentiation. Further complexity was added to the system with the discovery of p107 and p130, two close homologs of Rb. Although the three family members share similar functions, it is becoming clear that these proteins also have unique functions in differentiation and regulation of transcription. In contrast to Rb, p107 and p130 are rarely found inactivated in human tumors. Yet, evidence is accumulating that these proteins are part of a "tumor-surveillance" mechanism and can suppress tumorigenesis. Here we provide an overview of the knowledge obtained from studies involving the retinoblastoma gene family with particular focus on its role in suppressing tumorigenesis.
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RB belongs to a family with p107 and p130, which are structurally and functionally related, share the same pathway, but have distinct functions in specific contexts.
“In mammalian cells, RB belongs to a family of three proteins that also includes p107 and p130, which are structurally and functionally related to RB and belong to the same cellular pathway, but display distinct functions from RB in specific contexts4,7–10”
From Cellular mechanisms of tumour suppression by the retinoblastoma gene (2008) · cites this paper as [4]
RB has multiple cellular roles beyond the G1 checkpoint, including control of differentiation, regulation of apoptosis, maintenance of permanent cell cycle arrest, and preservation of chromosomal stability.
“It is now believed that RB has many cellular roles in addition to serving as a G1 checkpoint, including control of cellular differentiation during embryogenesis and in adult tissues, regulation of apoptotic cell death, maintenance of permanent cell cycle arrest and preservation of chromosomal stability3,4.”
From Cellular mechanisms of tumour suppression by the retinoblastoma gene (2008) · cites this paper as [4]
Targeted changes in upstream RB pathway components can inactivate all Rb family genes.
“Targeted alterations in upstream components of the RB pathway can result in the inactivation of all of the Rb family genes, but because the RB pathway is not strictly linear, these experiments might not directly inform us about the mechanisms of RB tumour suppressive action4,7,150–153.”
From Cellular mechanisms of tumour suppression by the retinoblastoma gene (2008) · cites this paper as [4]
The RB pathway is not strictly linear.
“Targeted alterations in upstream components of the RB pathway can result in the inactivation of all of the Rb family genes, but because the RB pathway is not strictly linear, these experiments might not directly inform us about the mechanisms of RB tumour suppressive action4,7,150–153.”
From Cellular mechanisms of tumour suppression by the retinoblastoma gene (2008) · cites this paper as [4]
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References 259 · Cited by 47
- Authors
- Dannenberg, J.-H., & te Riele, H. P. J.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Dannenberg, Jan-Hermen
- Venue
- Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation
- Publisher
- Springer Berlin Heidelberg
- Published
- 2006-02-24
- Volume
- 42
- Pages
- 183-225
- ISSN
- 0080-1844 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1246019140
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 259
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 8.81
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Results and problems in cell differentiation (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer-related Molecular Pathways
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Chromatin Remodeling and Cancer
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Ocular Oncology and Treatments
- Keywords
- retinoblastoma gene, p107, p130, tumor suppressor, cell cycle regulation, E2F transcription factors, tumorigenesis suppression, oncogenic transformation, apoptosis, DNA repair, chromatin modification, cell differentiation, transcriptional regulation, tumor surveillance
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cell Cycle, Humans, Retinoblastoma, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Genes, Tumor Suppressor, Retinoblastoma Protein, Genes, Retinoblastoma
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