title: The deubiquitinase USP44 is a tumor suppressor that protects against chromosome missegregation.
abstract: The mitotic checkpoint plays an important role in preventing chromosome segregation errors and the production of aneuploid progeny. In this issue, Zhang et al. examine mice and cells lacking the deubiquitinating enzyme USP44. Surprisingly, they find that USP44 prevents chromosome segregation errors through a function independent of its previously identified role in the mitotic checkpoint. Usp44-null animals develop aneuploidy and experience increased rates of tumorigenesis, implicating USP44 as novel tumor suppressor.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD, La Jolla, California 92093-0670, USA. a1holland@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Don W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Cleveland
mesh_terms: D000782:Aneuploidy; D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D018385:Centrosome / Q000378:metabolism*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000502:physiology*; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
chemical_list: D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases; C577772:USP44 protein, mouse; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase