Oncoprotein signalling and mitosis.

Studies of the roles of oncoproteins in cell cycle progression have concentrated on G1 because transformation is frequently associated with loss of G1 checkpoint control. However, it has become evident that G2 and mitotic checkpoints are often compromised in transformed cells and that many tumour suppressor proteins and oncoprotein kinases regulate and/or are activated in G2 and M. Disruption of p53 and ATM tumour suppressor protein functions can eliminate G2 and M checkpoints. The Src family kinases are activated in mitosis and collectively play an indispensable role in progression through G2/M. In addition, evidence suggests that Mos and elements of the Ras/Raf/MAPK cascade are also active in mitosis and appear likely to regulate G2 and/or M. Potential targets of these kinases include likely regulators of gene expression and microtubule dynamics such as Sam68 and Oncoprotein 18/stathmin. The ability of some oncoproteins to perturb orderly progression through both G1 and/or S and G2 and/or M is probably important for transformation.