tumor suppressor gene
2
4.0
- noun
- /ˈtjuːmər səˈprɛsər dʒiːn/
- Specialized
:
gen supresor de tumores
- The syndrome's gene has been mapped to chromosome 9q23.1q31, a tumor-suppressor gene.
Examples
-
Molecular genetics has provided evidence that loss or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes is an important step in carcinogenesis.
Academic text (1995) -
ANRIL has been associated with epigenetic silencing of the tumor suppressor gene p15, although the molecular events leading to this silencing were unclear.
Blog text (18) -
All of these tumor suppressor genes exist within the mouse genome as well.
-
Certain invasion tumor suppressor genes have been implicated.
Academic text (2007) -
For example, injecting tumor suppressor genes can slow some tumors.
Academic text (2012) -
Two mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene have been shown by different methods in human laryngeal carcinoma.
Academic text (1995) -
Collectively, these observations suggest that lncRNA-mediated silencing of tumor suppressor genes may be a major mechanism driving tumorigenesis.
Blog text (18) -
Deregulation of this histone modification can lead to epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes, thus leading to tumorigenesis.
Academic text (2017) -
Oncogenes such as the ras nuclear oncogene and the p53 tumor suppressor gene have also been studied in soft tissue sarcomas, although none has been approved for diagnostic use.
Academic text (2001) -
Tumor suppressor genes prevent excessive cell growth and help control cell division in healthy tissues.
Synonyms
4
8.8
A gene that reduces the effects of another gene, often a harmful change
1
5.6
A gene that reduces the effect of a harmful mutated gene
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
tumor + suppressor + gene
The meaning is directly compositional: 'tumor' (abnormal cell mass) + 'suppressor' (one that prevents or reduces) + 'gene' (DNA segment) yields 'a gene that prevents or reduces tumor formation.' This compound follows regular scientific noun-modifier patterns and has close equivalents in many languages, so a learner who knows the constituent words can infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Tumor suppressor gene gives a clear picture: a gene is like instructions, a suppressor is like a brake or guard, and a tumor is a growing lump. So a tumor suppressor gene is a gene that 'stops' or slows cells from making a tumor, which is why the phrase means a gene that keeps cell growth under control.