Cycling and Cancer

Millions of new cells are being made in your body as you read this sentence. Scientists measure the cell cycle from the point of birth to the point at which a cell divides again. There are many checks and balances that ensure smooth progression through the cycle. Accidents will happen, however, and cancer ensues when the balance goes askew. Cells divide uncontrollably to form tumours. This can occur when some proteins block the production of others, interrupting the cell cycle. Under the microscope this fruit fly larvae wing has been dyed (green) to reveal posterior sex combs (PSC), a protein that can block the cell cycle. Somehow it hampers the production of cyclin B, one of the key ‘managers’ of this cycle. Scientists here try to decipher at which stage the blockage is implemented. Blockage must occur after the signal to make cyclin B (red line).

Written by Andrew Purcell

Andrew Purcell

Writer

As a science journalist Andrew is currently online producer for New Scientist. Former editor of I, Science magazine at Imperial College, he also won The Science Challenge 2011.

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• Adone Mohd-Sarip
• Erasmus University Medical Centre, Netherlands
• Reprinted with permission from AAAS.
• Published in Science