What is the function of tumor suppressor genes?

Tumor suppressor genes play a critical role in regulating the cell cycle and maintaining genomic stability. Their primary function is to provide a check on cell division, which helps prevent uncontrolled cell growth that could lead to tumor development. By inhibiting the cell cycle, these genes help ensure that cells only divide when conditions are appropriate and that damaged or potentially harmful cells are eliminated through a process known as apoptosis, or programmed cell death.

When tumor suppressor genes are functioning properly, they help to maintain normal cellular function and prevent the transformation of healthy cells into cancerous cells. Mutations or deletions in these genes can lead to a loss of their inhibitory function, contributing to the unchecked proliferation characteristic of cancer.

Understanding the role of tumor suppressor genes is crucial for grasping how cellular mechanisms can go awry in cancer and highlights the importance of these genes in cancer prevention. This also emphasizes the delicate balance required in cellular processes that maintain health and prevent disease.