Genetics of the Cell Cycle and Cancer

Normal cell growth and division depend on precise regulation of the cell cycle. Loss of those controls in animal cells can result in unrestrained cell division. The consequences of this include cell proliferation, tumorigenesis and cancer and all of these are topics under study by a number of research groups at Michigan State University.

The accumulation of mutations contributes to the oncogenic transformation of cells, and hence the occurrence and repair of mutations is an important area of study. Cellular perception of external signals also plays a critical role in the control of cell division. Mutations in either the signals or their receptors can result in a stimulation of cell division. The receptors and kinases responsible for signal recognition and transduction are being studied by several research groups using techniques of molecular genetics. Molecular genetic tools are also applied to the study of tumor viruses, which integrate into the genome and stimulate replication and cell division. Physiological and molecular characterizations of tumor development are being conducted to help establish a better understanding of the processes of cellular transformation using animal cell culture lines, mice, and humans. Other investigations focus on the genetic basis of cancer in chickens and dogs. Within this research area, dynamic interactions and on-going collaborations are centered around studies of breast cancer, gene expression, and mutagenesis and repair.