title: Cell-cycle control in the face of damage--a matter of life or death.
abstract: Cells respond to DNA damage or defects in the mitotic spindle by activating checkpoints that arrest the cell cycle. Alternatively, damaged cells can undergo cell death by the process of apoptosis. The correct balance between these pathways is important for the maintenance of genomic integrity while preventing unnecessary cell death. Although the molecular mechanisms of the cell cycle and apoptosis have been elucidated, the links between them have not been clear. Recent work, however, indicates that common components directly link the regulation of apoptosis with cell-cycle checkpoints operating during interphase, whereas in mitosis, the control of apoptosis is directly coupled to the cell-cycle machinery. These findings shed new light on how the balance between cell-cycle progression and cell death is controlled.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK. p.r.clarke@dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Lindsey A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Allan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents