Which Cell Cycle Regulators are Most Relevant to Neonatal Health?
Several key regulators are particularly crucial for neonatal health:
1. Cyclins and Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (CDKs): These proteins form complexes that drive the cell cycle forward. Aberrations in their expression can disrupt normal development. 2. p53: This tumor suppressor protein ensures cells with damaged DNA do not proliferate. Mutations in p53 can lead to developmental abnormalities and increase susceptibility to cancer. 3. Retinoblastoma protein (Rb): Rb controls the transition from the G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle. Alterations in Rb function can result in retinoblastoma, a neonatal cancer of the retina.
