p15INK4B is a potential effector of TGF-beta-induced cell cycle arrest.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) inhibits cell proliferation by inducing a G1-phase cell cycle arrest. Normal progression through G1 is promoted by the activity of the cyclin-dependent protein kinases CDK4 and CDK6 (ref. 2), which are inhibited by the protein p16INK4. We have isolated a new member of the p16INK4 family, p15INK4B. p15 expression is induced approximately 30-fold in human keratinocytes by treatment with TGF-beta, suggesting that p15 may act as an effector of TGF-beta-mediated cell cycle arrest. The gene encoding p15 is located on chromosome 9 adjacent to the p16 gene at a frequent site of chromosomal abnormality in human tumours (9p21).