TRANSCRIPTIONAL CONTROL BY THE RETINOBLASTOMA PROTEIN

The retinoblastoma gene product is an abundant nuclear protein, whose 'pocket domain' mediates numerous protein-protein, interactions. A sub stantial proportion of the RB-interacting proteins are transcription f actors suggesting that RB plays a fundamental role in the regulation o f transcription. Via these interactions, RB can influence both the pro gression through the cell cycle and the expression of lineage specific products. In this review I discuss some of the likely mechanisms by w hich RB regulates cell proliferation and differentiation.