title: Expanding the Iroquois genes repertoire: a non-transcriptional function in cell cycle progression.
abstract: Drosophila Iroquois (Iro) proteins are components of the TALE homeodomain family of transcriptional regulators. They play key roles in territorial specification and pattern formation. A recent study has disclosed a novel developmental function of the Iro proteins. In the eye and wing imaginal discs, they can regulate the size of the territories that they specify. They do so by cell-autonomously controlling cell cycle progression. Indeed, Iro proteins down-regulate the activity of the CyclinE/Cdk2 complex by a transcription-independent mechanism. This novel function is executed mainly through 2 evolutionarily conserved domains of the Iro proteins: the Cyclin Binding Domain and the IRO-box, which mediate their binding to CyclinE-containing protein complexes. Here we discuss the functional implications of the control of the cell cycle by Iro proteins for development and oncogenesis.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Development and Differentiation ; Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM) ; Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barrios
authors.affiliation: a Department of Development and Differentiation ; Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM) ; Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Sonsoles
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campuzano
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics*; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D019927:Cyclin E / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000072417:Protein Domains; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D019927:Cyclin E; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C099258:caup protein, Drosophila; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; C495887:cdk2 protein, Drosophila
keywords: Drosophila; Iroquois genes; cell proliferation; imaginal discs; tumor suppressor genes