Review

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 9, 713-724 (September 2008) | doi:10.1038/nrm2469

Conserved functions of the pRB and E2F families

Sander van den Heuvel1 & Nicholas J. Dyson2  About the authors

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Proteins that are related to the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor pRB and the E2F transcription factor are conserved in many species of plants and animals. The mammalian orthologues of pRB and E2F are best known for their roles in cell proliferation, but it has become clear that they affect many biological processes. Here we describe the functions of pRB-related proteins and E2F proteins that have emerged from genetic and biochemical experiments in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. The similarities that have been observed between worms, flies and mammals provide insight into the core activities of pRB and E2F proteins and show how a common regulatory module can control various biological functions in different organisms.

Author affiliations

  1. Developmental Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Email: s.j.l.vandenheuvel@uu.nl
  2. Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA.
    Email: dyson@helix.mgh.harvard.edu

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