Role of RUNX Family Members in G1 Restriction-Point Regulation

• Published in: Molecules and cells 2020, 43(2), , pp.182-187
• Main Authors: Lee, Jung-Won, Bae, Suk-Chul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Minireview; 생물학
• ISSN: 1016-8478; 0219-1032
• DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2019.0319

When cells are stimulated by growth factors, they make a critical choice in early G 1 phase: proceed forward to S phase, remain in G 1 , or revert to G 0 phase. Once the critical decision is made, cells execute a fixed program independently of extracellular signals. The specific stage at which the critical decision is made is called the restriction point or R-point. The existence of the R-point raises a major question: what is the nature of the molecular machinery that decides whether or not a cell in G 1 will continue to advance through the cell cycle or exit from the cell cycle? The R-point program is perturbed in nearly all cancer cells. Therefore, exploring the nature of the R-point decision-making machinery will provide insight into how cells consult extracellular signals and intracellular status to make an appropriate R-point decision, as well into the development of cancers. Recent studies have shown that expression of a number of immediate early genes is associated with the R-point decision, and that the decision-making program constitutes an oncogene surveillance mechanism. In this review, we briefly summarize recent findings regarding the mechanisms underlying the context-dependent R-point decision.