Researchers discover strong break on cell division
The protein complex SWI/SNF that loosens tightly wrapped up DNA is also a strong inhibitor of cell division, at the time that cells take on specialized functions. Professor Sander van den Heuvel and PhD researcher Suzan Ruijtenberg (both from Utrecht University) discovered this important inhibitor function. How exactly cell division stops at the right time is not yet known in detail, but unhindered continuation of cell division is a major step to cancer formation. In one in five human tumours SWI/SNF is defective. This might play a role in the uninhibited division of tumour cells. The leading journal Cell published the discovery online on July 2. NWO funded this research through its Open Programme, which enables researchers to develop new lines of research based on their own insights.