Ki-67: more than a proliferation marker

• Published in: Chromosoma Vol. 127; no. 2; pp. 175 - 186
• Main Authors: Sun, Xiaoming, Kaufman, Paul D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Antigens; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Cell cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Nucleolus - metabolism; Cell Nucleolus - ultrastructure; Cell Proliferation; Chromosomes; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 - genetics; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 - metabolism; Developmental Biology; Eukaryotic Microbiology; Gene Expression Regulation; Heterochromatin; Heterochromatin - metabolism; Heterochromatin - ultrastructure; Human Genetics; Humans; Interphase; Ki-67 Antigen - genetics; Ki-67 Antigen - metabolism; Life Sciences; Mitosis; neoplasm cells; Nucleoli; Protein Domains; Protein Isoforms - genetics; Protein Isoforms - metabolism; Retinoblastoma Protein - genetics; Retinoblastoma Protein - metabolism; Review; ribonucleoproteins; Ribonucleoproteins - chemistry; Ribonucleoproteins - genetics; Ribonucleoproteins - metabolism; Tumor cells; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - genetics; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism; Ki-67; Perichromosomal layer; Heterochromatin; Cell cycle
• ISSN: 0009-5915; 1432-0886; 1432-0886
• DOI: 10.1007/s00412-018-0659-8

Ki-67 protein has been widely used as a proliferation marker for human tumor cells for decades. In recent studies, multiple molecular functions of this large protein have become better understood. Ki-67 has roles in both interphase and mitotic cells, and its cellular distribution dramatically changes during cell cycle progression. These localizations correlate with distinct functions. For example, during interphase, Ki-67 is required for normal cellular distribution of heterochromatin antigens and for the nucleolar association of heterochromatin. During mitosis, Ki-67 is essential for formation of the perichromosomal layer (PCL), a ribonucleoprotein sheath coating the condensed chromosomes. In this structure, Ki-67 acts to prevent aggregation of mitotic chromosomes. Here, we present an overview of functional roles of Ki-67 across the cell cycle and also describe recent experiments that clarify its role in regulating cell cycle progression in human cells.