Role of tuberin in mitotic progression

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Division into two daughter cells is an event that occurs throughout life in many cell populations and involves the successful duplication of the DNA followed by cell division or cytokinesis. It is essential that these events occur in the correct order, without error and that the cell monitors its size and energy requirements during the formation of a new daughter cell. Coordination and monitoring over these events depends on regulatory proteins called cyclins and a family of catalytic proteins called the cyclin dependent kinases (CDK)s. Cyclin and CDK proteins form a complex that in turn trigger all of the events required to move the cell through these phases of cell growth and division. Formation and activation of these important complexes relies on many layers of regulation, much of which still remains to be resolved. This research program focuses on determining how these complexes are regulated to initiate the onset of cell division. Importantly, our lab has exciting data linking proteins known to monitor nutrient and growth factor content with cell division. We propose that this data reflects a novel checkpoint which is essential for maintaining proper growth control.