[Strategies for the detection and the identification of tumor suppressor genes]

Abstract

The methods for the detection and the identification of tumor suppressor genes are characterized and classified as follows: Firstly; by the comparison of expressed genes or proteins between tumor cells and normal cells. Secondly; by the gene transfer. Thirdly; by the identification of proteins which are involved in the biochemical process for cell growth suppression and DNA repair. Human genome contains dozens of tumor suppressor genes and tumor suppression-related genes which have not yet been cloned. Positional cloning is the most reliable method for the cloning of these genes. However, it cost huge amount of labor and time. New methods developed in recent years, such as differential mRNA display or two hybrids system, would facilitate the identification and the molecular cloning of novel tumor suppressor genes.