Cell Cycle Arrest and DNA Repair

There is an article in the jounal Nature (Volume 459 Number 7243) titled F-box protein FBXO31 mediates cyclin D1 degradation to induce G1 arrest after DNA damage. It was authored by Manas K. Santra, Narendra Wajapeyee and Michael R. Green.

When DNA is damaged in eukaryotic cells a signaling pathway called the DNA damage response (DDR) becomes an essential part of the cellular coping response. Affected cells need to regulate their cell cycle so that DNA repair can be coordinated with the progression of the cycle. DDR coordinates adjustments in the cycle progression.

Researchers studied the function of a protein known as FBXO31. When this protein is expressed it facilitates the degradation of cyclin D1. Cyclin D1 plays a role in regulating the progression of the cell cycle from G1 to the S phase. It helps maintain the G1 phase. An increase in FBXO31 levels has been observed with the incidence of different types of DNA damaging agents.