Retinoblastoma protein

Retinoblastoma protein

The Retinoblastoma protein (pRb) is a tumor suppressor protein that is dysfunctional in several major cancers. The name Retinoblastoma protein is derived from the condition Retinoblastoma, a rare form of cancer that usually develops in early childhood, primarily in the retina of the eye.

Pronunciation

Retinoblastoma protein: /ˌrɛtɪnoʊblæsˈtoʊmə ˈproʊtiːn/

Etymology

The term Retinoblastoma protein is derived from the condition Retinoblastoma, which was first described by Swiss ophthalmologist James Homer Wright in 1926. The protein was named after the disease because of its role in the disease's development.

Function

The Retinoblastoma protein is a crucial regulator of the cell cycle. It prevents excessive cell growth by inhibiting cell cycle progression until a cell is ready to divide. It does this by preventing the activity of E2F family members, which are transcription factors that activate the genes necessary for DNA replication.

Related Terms

• Cell cycle
• E2F transcription factor
• DNA replication
• Tumor suppressor
• Cancer

See Also

• Cancer
• Cell cycle
• DNA replication
• E2F transcription factor
• Tumor suppressor

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Retinoblastoma protein
• Wikipedia's article - Retinoblastoma protein

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