RB Protein as a Cellular "Corral" for Growth-promoting Proteins

The retinoblastoma (RB) susceptibility gene encodes a protein whose function prevents neoplastic transformation in a variety of cell types (for review, see Lee et al. 1988, 1990; Goodrich and Lee 1990). Loss or mutation of the gene elicits tumorigenesis in susceptible cells, and the reintroduction of the wild-type gene effects a reversion to a nontumorigenic state. Because the RB gene is expressed in all mammalian cell types examined so far, and because loss of a functional RB gene is associated with several cancers, the RB protein probably plays a general role in the regulation of cell growth.