G1/S-specific cyclin-D2 is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residue (biochemistry), residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including Enzyme catalysis, catalysing metab ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''CCND2''
gene
In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...
.
Function
The
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residue (biochemistry), residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including Enzyme catalysis, catalysing metab ...
encoded by this gene belongs to the highly conserved
cyclin
Cyclins are proteins that control the progression of a cell through the cell cycle by activating cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK).
Etymology
Cyclins were originally discovered by R. Timothy Hunt in 1982 while studying the cell cycle of sea urch ...
family, whose members are characterized by a dramatic periodicity in protein abundance through the
cell cycle
The cell cycle, or cell-division cycle, is the sequential series of events that take place in a cell (biology), cell that causes it to divide into two daughter cells. These events include the growth of the cell, duplication of its DNA (DNA re ...
. Cyclins function as regulators of cyclin-dependent kinases. Different cyclins exhibit distinct
expression and degradation patterns which contribute to the temporal coordination of each
mitotic
Mitosis () is a part of the cell cycle in eukaryotic cells in which replicated chromosomes are separated into two new nuclei. Cell division by mitosis is an equational division which gives rise to genetically identical cells in which the t ...
event. This cyclin forms a complex with and functions as a regulatory subunit of
CDK4
Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), also known as cell division protein kinase 4, is an enzyme that is encoded by the ''CDK4'' gene in humans. CDK4 is a member of the cyclin-dependent kinase family, a group of serine/threonine kinases which regula ...
or
CDK6
Cell division protein kinase 6 (CDK6) is an enzyme encoded by the ''CDK6'' gene. It is regulated by cyclins, more specifically by Cyclin D proteins and Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor proteins. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of t ...
, whose activity is required for cell cycle
G1/
S transition. This protein has been shown to interact with and be involved in the
phosphorylation
In biochemistry, phosphorylation is described as the "transfer of a phosphate group" from a donor to an acceptor. A common phosphorylating agent (phosphate donor) is ATP and a common family of acceptor are alcohols:
:
This equation can be writ ...
of
tumor suppressor
A tumor suppressor gene (TSG), or anti-oncogene, is a gene that regulates a cell (biology), cell during cell division and replication. If the cell grows uncontrollably, it will result in cancer. When a tumor suppressor gene is mutated, it results ...
protein
Rb.
Knockout
A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking, ...
studies of the
homologous gene in
mouse
A mouse (: mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus'' ...
suggest the essential roles of this gene in
ovarian granulosa and
germ cell
A germ cell is any cell that gives rise to the gametes of an organism that reproduces sexually. In many animals, the germ cells originate in the primitive streak and migrate via the gut of an embryo to the developing gonads. There, they unde ...
proliferation. High level expression of this gene was observed in
ovarian and
testicular
A testicle or testis ( testes) is the gonad in all male bilaterians, including humans, and is homologous to the ovary in females. Its primary functions are the production of sperm and the secretion of androgens, primarily testosterone.
The r ...
tumors
A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...
.
Clinical significance
Mutations in CCND2 are associated to
megalencephaly-polymicrogyria-polydactyly-hydrocephalus syndrome.
References
Further reading
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External links
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