Phospholipase Cβ1 regulates proliferation of neuronal cells

What is it about?

Hormones and neurotransmitters activate nerve cells by inducing calcium signals and this calcium response is mediated by the enzyme phospholipase Cbeta (PLCb). Here, we have uncovered a novel binding between PLCb and an enzyme that allows cells to rapidly divide called CDK16. When this interaction occurs, the cells will stop dividing and begin to develop into mature cells. The association between PLCb and CDK16 is broken when neurotransmitters are present. CDk16 is only found in neuronal cells but is highly expressed in cancerous cells. Our study indicates that one way to get cancer cells to stop proliferating is to target drugs based on the interaction between PLCb and CDK16.

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