Cell-cycle control in the face of damage - a matter of life or death

Paul R. Clarke, Lindsey A. Allan

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    125 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Cells respond to DNA damage or defects in the mitotic spindle by activating checkpoints that arrest the cell cycle. Alternatively, damaged cells can undergo cell death by the process of apoptosis. The correct balance between these pathways is important for the maintenance of genomic integrity while preventing unnecessary cell death. Although the molecular mechanisms of the cell cycle and apoptosis have been elucidated, the links between them have not been clear. Recent work, however, indicates that common components directly link the regulation of apoptosis with cell-cycle checkpoints operating during interphase, whereas in mitosis, the control of apoptosis is directly coupled to the cell-cycle machinery. These findings shed new light on how the balance between cell-cycle progression and cell death is controlled.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)89-98
    Number of pages10
    JournalTrends in Cell Biology
    Volume19
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2009

    Keywords

    • SPINDLE-ASSEMBLY CHECKPOINT
    • DNA-DAMAGE
    • MITOTIC CHECKPOINT
    • ANTIMITOTIC DRUGS
    • INDUCED APOPTOSIS
    • CANCER-CELLS
    • BCL-XL
    • ACTIVATION
    • PHOSPHORYLATION
    • PROTEIN

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