The role of aneuploidy in promoting and suppressing tumors.
Impaired mitotic checkpoint signaling can both promote and suppress tumors. The mitotic checkpoint targets Cdc20, the specificity factor of the ubiquitin ligase that promotes anaphase by targeting cyclin B and securin for destruction. In this issue, Li et al. (2009. J. Cell Biol. doi:10.1083/jcb.200904020) use gene replacement to produce mice expressing a Cdc20 mutant that cannot be inhibited by the mitotic checkpoint. In addition to the expected aneuploidy, these animals have a high tumor incidence that is likely caused by persistent aneuploidy coupled with nonmitotic functions of mutant Cdc20.
Weaver
Beth A A
BA
Department of Pharmacology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53562, USA. baweaver@wisc.edu
Cleveland
Don W
DW
D000782:Aneuploidy; D000818:Animals; D064199:Cdc20 Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D018816:Genes, cdc; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008938:Mitosis / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D064199:Cdc20 Proteins; C577491:Cdc20 protein, mouse; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins