Abstract
Multifaceted relations link ribosome biogenesis to cancer. Ribosome biogenesis takes place in the nucleolus. Clarifying the mechanisms involved in this nucleolar function and its relationship with cell proliferation: (1) allowed the understanding of the reasons for the nucleolar changes in cancer cells and their exploitation in tumor pathology, (2) defined the importance of the inhibition of ribosome biogenesis in cancer chemotherapy and (3) focused the attention on alterations of ribosome biogenesis in the pathogenesis of cancer. This review summarizes the research milestones regarding these relevant relationships between ribosome biogenesis and cancer. The structure and function of the nucleolus will also be briefly described.
Highlights
The nucleolus is the site where ribosomal genes are located during the interphase and where ribosome biogenesis occurs
Three distinct morphological components are constantly present in the nucleolus: the fibrillar centres, light electron-dense roundish structures varying in size and number, the dense fibrillar component constituted by densely packed fibrils located at the border of fibrillar centres, and the granular component made of granules surrounding the fibrillar components (Figure 1A)
Ribosomal genes are present in the fibrillar components together with all factors necessary for ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription, and the newly synthesized rRNA molecules are located in the dense fibrillar component
Summary
The nucleolus is the site where ribosomal genes are located during the interphase and where ribosome biogenesis occurs. Silver staining method for the NOR proteins Using this method, the AgNORs appear as well-defined black dots distributed within the nucleolar body and perfectly identify the structural-functional units of the nucleolus (Figure 2A,B). AgNORindistribution was found to be Ploton directly and strictly related to the size of the represents a very useful tool to have information on the ribosome biogenesis rate in routinely processed nucleolus and to its function in ribosome biogenesis [14,15], Ploton and colleagues’ silver-staining histologicalrepresents sections, by either counting. Nucleolar size can helpparameter to distinguish a malignant a benign tumor but cannot be generally other studies, always conducted using the silver staining procedure indicated considered to represent an absolute diagnostic parameter insame tumor pathology that nucleolar size is directly related to the degree of cancer malignancy, and represents. This may be due to economic reasons: the AgNOR staining reaction is difficult to be automatized, necessitating dedicated laboratory technicians
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