Has a Tumor Suppressor Function?
A Tumor Suppressor Gene, or Anti-Oncogene, Is a Gene That Regulates a Cell During Cell Division and Replication. If the Cell Grows Uncontrollably, It Will...
A tumor suppressor gene, or anti-oncogene, is a gene that regulates a 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 in a loss or reduction in its function.
How does a tumor suppressor function?
A tumor suppressor gene directs the production of a protein that is part of the system that regulates cell division. The tumor suppressor protein plays a role in keeping cell division in check. When mutated, a tumor suppressor gene is unable to do its job, and as a result uncontrolled cell growth may occur.
How can a tumor suppressor gene lose its function?
Mutations that inactivate tumor suppressor genes, called loss-of-function mutations, are often point mutations or small deletions that disrupt the function of the protein that is encoded by the gene; chromosomal deletions or breaks that delete the tumor suppressor gene; or instances of somatic recombination during ...