| Abstract: |
Aneuploidy, an abnormal chromosome number, has been recognized as a hallmark of human cancer for nearly a century1; however, the mechanisms responsible for this abnormality have remained elusive. Here we report the identification of mutations in hCDC4 (also known as Fbw7 or Archipelago) in both human colorectal cancers and their precursor lesions. We show that genetic inactivation of hCDC4, by means of targeted disruption of the gene in karyotypically stable colorectal cancer cells, results in a striking phenotype associated with micronuclei and chromosomal instability. This phenotype can be traced to a defect in the execution of metaphase and subsequent transmission of chromosomes, and is dependent on cyclin E-a protein that is regulated by hCDC4 (refs 2-4). Our data suggest that chromosomal instability is caused by specific genetic alterations in a large fraction of human cancers and can occur before malignant conversion. |
| Keywords: |
protein expression; unclassified drug; human cell; gene deletion; genetics; mutation; protein conformation; colorectal cancer; proteins; cell cycle protein; phenotype; metabolism; cell cycle proteins; in situ hybridization, fluorescence; gene expression; biology; ubiquitin protein ligase; cell line, tumor; colorectal neoplasms; chromosome aberration; chemistry; fluorescence in situ hybridization; genetic engineering; messenger rna; tumors; rna, messenger; gene disruption; genomic instability; colorectal tumor; cancer cell; tumor cell line; models, molecular; gene inactivation; chemical structure; karyotype; ubiquitin-protein ligases; aneuploidy; mutagenesis; metaphase; chromosomes; cyclin e; f-box proteins; cells; precursors; micronucleus; stability; f box protein; data reduction; micronuclei, chromosome-defective; humans; human; priority journal; article; genetic inactivation; cell cycle protein 4; fbxw7 protein, human
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