title: Emerging roles for Polycomb proteins in cancer.
abstract: The activities of the heterogeneous Polycomb (PcG) group of proteins ensure that the developmental processes of proliferation and cellular identity establishment are carried out correctly. PcG proteins assemble stable multiprotein complexes that, together with additional factors, maintain their target genes in a transcriptionally repressive state. The biochemical and functional features of PcG proteins have been extensively investigated over the years. Here we analyse the biochemical and mechanistic proprieties of PcG proteins with respect to recent advances that link the genetic alterations of PcG activity to cancer development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: diego.pasini@ieo.eu.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pasini
authors.affiliation: Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats, Pg Lluis Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: luciano.dicroce@crg.eu.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Croce
mesh_terms: D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000235:genetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins