Authors : Donia Gamudi and Renald Blundell
Abstract: Tumour suppressor genes are a class of genes that have a crucial role in the genesis of neoplasia. These genes when transcribed and translated, result in the production of proteins that regulate the cell cycle, repair any DNA mutations and control apoptosis. When tumour suppressor genes are mutated, cells lose control and this leads to neoplastic growth. A good analogy is comparing a tumour suppressor gene with the brake pedal of a car. The tumour suppressor gene prevents the cell from dividing too quickly just as a brake keeps the car from going too fast.
Donia Gamudi and Renald Blundell, 2010. Tumor Suppressor Genes. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 4: 280-284.