Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Gene regulation

Cycling silence

Nature volume 412, pages 493–494 (2001)Cite this article

The cell-division cycle involves careful timing: cell-cycle genes must be switched on only when needed. The retinoblastoma protein controls one set of these genes, and one way it does this is most unusual.

In the desert, vast tracts of land are lifeless, interrupted only by the occasional oasis. In our cells, part of the genome seems similarly devoid of life. Apart from a few oases of activity, most of the genetic information in this part is silenced — it is never switched on. This region, where the DNA is packaged into a closed, inactive structure, is called heterochromatin1. This type of global silencing is thought to be rather unchanging, and at first glance seems inappropriate to the exquisitely timed control of the cell-cycle genes, which guarantee the smooth progression of a cell through the steps of DNA replication and cell division. But, on page 561 of this issue, Nielsen and colleagues2 show that the two human proteins that are required for the formation of heterochromatin are also involved in the dynamically regulated repression of some cell-cycle genes. These proteins are brought into play by the retinoblastoma protein (Rb), known for its involvement in cell proliferation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Silencing in heterochromatin, a compact form of DNA, by the HP1 and SUV39H1 proteins.
Figure 2: Silencing during the cell cycle.

References

  1. Wallrath, L. L. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 8, 147–153 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Nielsen, S. J. et al. Nature 412, 561–565 (2001).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Strahl, B. D. & Allis, C. D. Nature 403, 41–45 (2000).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Rea, S. et al. Nature 406, 593–599 (2000).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lachner, M., O'Carroll, D., Rea, S., Mechtler, K. & Jenuwein, T. Nature 410, 116–120 (2001).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bannister, A. J. et al. Nature 410, 120–124 (2001).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Brehm, A. & Kouzarides, T. Trends Biochem. Sci. 24, 142–145 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhang, H. S. et al. Cell 101, 79–89 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Firestein, R., Cui, X., Huie, P. & Cleary, M. L. Mol. Cell. Biol. 20, 4900–4909 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Molecular Biology (ZMBH), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 282, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany

    Leonie Ringrose & Renato Paro

Authors
  1. Leonie Ringrose
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Renato Paro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Renato Paro.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ringrose, L., Paro, R. Cycling silence. Nature 412, 493–494 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35087692

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35087692

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing