Epigenetic regulation required to ensure correct number of chromosomes

Date:

February 17, 2014

Source:

Karolinska Institutet

Summary:

Abnormal number of chromosomes is often associated with cancer development. Researchers have shown that a subtle epigenetic change plays an important role in the correct segregation of chromosomes. Normally when a cell divides, the chromosomes are segregated equally to two daughter cells. However, tumor cells frequently have either too few or too many chromosomes, leading to the incorrect expression of a number of genes. When a cell is about to divide, the cell division machinery takes hold of chromosomes by the centromere so that they may be pulled apart and one copy of each given to the daughter cells.

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