The document discusses two news articles about genes and cellular processes related to cancer development. The first article finds that the FAM190A gene regulates normal cell division and that abnormalities in this gene can lead to multipolar mitosis, a characteristic of cancer. The second article finds that shortening telomeres and mutations to the p53 protein, which normally protects against DNA damage, can allow cells to divide abnormally and potentially develop into cancer when these control mechanisms are defective. Understanding molecular mechanisms like these may help advance cancer treatment.

1. “
“CANCER-LINKED FAM190A GENE FOUND TO
REGULATE CELL DIVISIÓN” AND “CRITICAL
PATHWAY IN CELL CYCLE MAY LEAD TO CANCER
DEVELOPMENT”
Kelly Marisancén Carrasquilla
Medicine student
III Semester
Molecular biology

4. Introduction
Both news are about the
relation between cell cycle, the
process, molecules involved
and control regulation with an
important disease: cancer.

5. Cancer-Linked FAM190A Gene
Found to Regulate Cell Division
(July 3, 2013)

6. Cancer-Linked FAM190A Gene Found to
Regulate Cell Division
(July 3, 2013)
FAM190A is a gene related with
cell cycle, especially with the cell
division. Knocking down the
expression of this gene alter the
normal process of mitosis.
Image take from: www.bio.miami.edu

7. In this case, cells try to divide and
seems that they do, but really it is not.
There is a strand that connects them.
Later, "each" cell tries to divide again
and again, but they are still together.
For this reason, the process of mitosis
is not normal when the gene
FAM190A is not working.
Cancer-Linked FAM190A Gene Found to
Regulate Cell Division
(July 3, 2013)
Image take from: www.tumblr.com

8. Cancer-Linked FAM190A Gene Found to
Regulate Cell Division
(July 3, 2013)
What happens in this abnormal cell division is called multipolar mitosis and it is
one of the most important characteristics in cancer. Also, in this disease is
common to find chromosomal imbalances, and abnormalities in the gene
FAM190A can cause it.
Image take from: lifecellblog.blogspot.com

9. Alterations in FAM190A gene could
be found in nearly 40% of human
cancers and it is consider the third
most common.
Cancer-Linked FAM190A Gene Found to
Regulate Cell Division
(July 3, 2013)
Image take from: umbralanaerobico.blogspot.com

10. Personal Observation
I believe that knowing how our body and all of its components functions is an
essential part today in the scientific world, not only for the pursuit of knowledge
itself, but also in the case that something is wrong, knowing what is
malfunctioning is a key part in finding a cure or a working treatment.

11. Critical Pathway in Cell Cycle May Lead to Cancer
Development
(July 11, 2013)

12. Telomeres are the sequences located at the ends of chromosomes.
Their functions are:
• Prevent the fusion between chromosomes.
• Avoid the degrading of the DNA endings.
They are very important in DNA replication, tumor suppression and aging.
Critical Pathway in Cell Cycle May Lead to Cancer
Development
(July 11, 2013)
Image take from: www.medindia.net

13. After each cell division, telomeres get
shorter but it is a slow, gradual and
normal process.
In cancer cells something very interesting
happens and that is that they must have
short telomeres to maintain their
undifferentiated state.
Critical Pathway in Cell Cycle May Lead to Cancer
Development
(July 11, 2013)
Image take fom: www.immortalhumans.com

14. Critical Pathway in Cell Cycle May Lead to Cancer
Development
(July 11, 2013)
In the study, researchers removed a
protein called TRF2 from the
telomeres of human fibrosarcoma
to see what could happen.
Without this protein telomeres are
exposed and unprotected, but
thanks to the control points of cell
cycle, the division stopped.
Image take from: http://eishinoguchi.com/checkpoint.htm

15. The p53 pathway
p53 is a protein that acts in the G1 control point, it responds quickly to damaged
DNA.
The p53 pathway is a mechanism that protects a cell's genetic material and
suppresses tumors, because it detects any error (like deprotection telomeres) or a
problem in the cell cycle.
Critical Pathway in Cell Cycle May Lead to Cancer
Development
(July 11, 2013)

16. p53's function may be deficient due to a mutation or the infection caused by
cancer, when this happens the G1 checkpoint no longer works as such and
therefore cells are able to divide with “deprotected” telomeres.
Critical Pathway in Cell Cycle May Lead to Cancer
Development
(July 11, 2013)
Image take from: www.qiagen.com

17. I think that the cell being such a small structure, has many processes and each of
them is essential for the proper operation and status of the cell. In this case, I should
emphasize how the shortening of telomeres and mutation of the p53 protein leads
to cancer. I believe that as more processes are discovered, it will be easier to find an
effective treatment for this disease.
Personal Observation

18. Medical utility

19. It is important to understand the molecular mechanisms and the scientific
explanation of diseases to consider a treatment or cure for them. in this case,
regarding cancer which is a fairly common disease today.
Medical utility
Image take from: http://blog.alkalinecare.com/brocoli-defensa-contra-el-cancer/

20. Bibliography
• Kalpesh Patel, Francesca Scrimieri, Soma Ghosh, Jun Zhong, Min-Sik Kim, et al. FAM190A Deficiency
Creates a Cell Division Defect. Sciencedaily, (online magazine), 2013 (July 3).
Available at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130703160357.htm
• Anthony J. Cesare, Makoto T. Hayashi, Laure Crabbe, Jan Karlseder. The Telomere Deprotection Response
Is Functionally Distinct from the Genomic DNA Damage Response. Science daily. (online magazine). 2013
(July 11).
Available at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130711135223.htm
• Martinez Sánchez, Lina María. Biología molecular. 2. ed. Medellín: UPB. Fac. de Medicina, 2006. 208 pp.
47-51.