title: Emerging roles of RETINOBLASTOMA-RELATED proteins in evolution and plant development.
abstract: RETINOBLASTOMA-RELATED (RBR) proteins are plant homologs of the human tumor suppressor pRB. Similar to their animal counterparts they have roles in cell cycle regulation and differentiation. We discuss recent findings of the evolution of RBR functions ranging from a molecular ruler and metabolic integrator in algae to a coordinator of differentiation in gametophytes. Genetic analysis and manipulation of protein levels during gametophytic and post-embryonic plant development are now providing new insights into the function of RBR in stem cell maintenance, cell specification and differentiation. We briefly explain interactions of RBR with chromatin-modifying complexes that appear to be a central underlying molecular mechanism during developmental transitions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Universitaetsstrasse 2, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutzat
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gruissem
mesh_terms: D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D063245:Plant Development; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein