The analysis of genome stability maintenance mechanisms in human cancer Biology Diagrams Telomeres and their associated proteins protect the ends of chromosomes to maintain genome stability. Telomeres undergo progressive shortening with each cell division in mammalian somatic cells without telomerase, resulting in genome instability. When telomeres reach a critically short length or are recognized as a damage signal, cells enter a state of senescence, followed by cell cycle arrest Cell division cycles and checkpoints are altered during both development and cancer. We have focused on a cell cycle variation that results in polyploid cells: the endocycle (Figure 1). Endocycling cells grow and periodically duplicate their DNA without dividing (G/S cycle), and ultimately become large, polyploid cells. Coordination of DNA replication is paramount to maintaining genome stability including origin firing, rescuing stalled forks and termination. The cell has developed many cellular cascades that respond to DNA damage and replication stress. Their response acts to facilitate repair, cell cycle arrest and, when this does not suffice, apoptosis.
The cycle begins with the G1 phase, where the cell grows, synthesizes proteins, and accumulates energy reserves for DNA replication. Regulatory mechanisms assess whether conditions are favorable, ensuring sufficient nutrients and no external stressors threaten genomic stability.
Research: Cell division and genome stability in development and disease ... Biology Diagrams
To preserve genome integrity and proper cell-cycle progression, eukaryotic cells have developed checkpoint functions that are constantly monitoring DNA integrity and that serve to coordinate
Maintaining genome integrity is essential to preserve cell survival and prevent malignant transformation. DNA replication and chromosome segregation are inherently challenging for genome stability, and the cell has evolved intricate mechanisms to regulate these two major cell cycle events in tight coordination, thus ensuring that a faithful copy of the genetic material is passed down to
Genome stability from the perspective of telomere length Biology Diagrams
These switches impose a DNA-damage checkpoint on cell cycle progression in late G1. Overview of the molecular mechanisms controlling cell cycle progression and genome stability. The basic alternation between interphase (orange) and mitosis (blue) is governed by the interplay between Cyclin B-dependent kinase-1 (CycB:Cdk1) and B55-dependent
