Hec1 overexpression hyperactivates the mitotic checkpoint and induces tumor formation in vivo

E Diaz-Rodríguez, R Sotillo… - Proceedings of the …, 2008 - National Acad Sciences
E Diaz-Rodríguez, R Sotillo, JM Schvartzman, R Benezra
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2008National Acad Sciences
Hec1 (Highly Expressed in Cancer 1) is one of four proteins of the outer kinetochore Ndc80
complex involved in the dynamic interface between centromeres and spindle microtubules.
Its overexpression is seen in a variety of human tumors and correlates with tumor grade and
prognosis. We show here that the overexpression of Hec1 in an inducible mouse model
results in mitotic checkpoint hyperactivation. As previously observed with overexpression of
the Mad2 gene, hyperactivation of the mitotic checkpoint leads to aneuploidy in vitro and is …
Hec1 (Highly Expressed in Cancer 1) is one of four proteins of the outer kinetochore Ndc80 complex involved in the dynamic interface between centromeres and spindle microtubules. Its overexpression is seen in a variety of human tumors and correlates with tumor grade and prognosis. We show here that the overexpression of Hec1 in an inducible mouse model results in mitotic checkpoint hyperactivation. As previously observed with overexpression of the Mad2 gene, hyperactivation of the mitotic checkpoint leads to aneuploidy in vitro and is sufficient to generate tumors in vivo that harbor significant levels of aneuploidy. These results underscore the role of chromosomal instability as a result of mitotic checkpoint hyperactivation in the initiation of tumorigenesis.
National Acad Sciences