Atonal homolog 1 Is a Tumor Suppressor Gene

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000039
• Publication Date: 2009-02-20T18:02:54Z
• Authors: Wouter Bossuyt; Avedis Kazanjian; Natalie De Geest; Sofie Van Kelst; Gert De Hertogh; Karel Geboes; Greg P Boivin; Judith Luciani; Francois Fuks; Marinee Chuah; Thierry VandenDri...; Peter Marynen; Jan Cools; Noah F Shroyer; Bassem A Hassan
• Keywords: Gene knockout

Colon cancer accounts for more than 10% of all deaths annually. Our genetic evidence from Drosophila and previous in vitro studies mammalian Atonal homolog 1 (Atoh1, also called Math1 or Hath1) suggest an anti-oncogenic function the group proneural basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors. We asked whether mouse Atoh1 human ATOH1 act as tumor suppressor genes vivo. Genetic knockouts molecular analyses cell lines support a ATOH1. antagonizes formation growth by regulating proliferation apoptosis, likely via activation Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway. Furthermore, colorectal Merkel carcinoma patients show epigenetic loss-of-function mutations. data indicate that may be early target oncogenic mutations tissues where it instructs cellular differentiation.