Thursday, August 12, 2010

Merlin Protein Found to Control Liver Stem Cells, Prevent Tumor Development

Source: Massachusetts General Hospital
Date: August 12, 2010

Summary:

A protein known to be involved in a rare hereditary cancer syndrome may have a role in the regulation of liver stem cells and the development of liver cancer. In the August 15 issue of Genes & Development, a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team describes finding that the protein called merlin, encoded by the NF2 (neurofibromatosis type 2) gene, controls the activity of adult stem cells that give rise to the two major types of liver cells.