FLJ25439, a novel cytokinesis-associated protein, induces tetraploidization and maintains chromosomal stability via enhancing expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress chaperones.

Investigation of the mechanisms leading to aneuploidy and polyploidy is critical to cancer research. Previous studies have provided strong evidence of the importance of tetraploidization as an early step in tumorigenesis. In cancer cells, tetraploid cells may contribute to abnormal mitotic progression, which may be associated with cytokinesis failure. Tetraploidy leads to genomic instability due to centrosome and chromosome over-replication. Until now, the mechanism by which cells maintain tetraploid status has been unknown. Here, we identified a novel D box-containing protein, FLJ25439, which displays a dynamic expression profile during mitosis/cytokinesis with the midbody as the most prominent associated structure. To understand the function of FLJ25439, we established stable cell lines overexpressing FLJ25439. FLJ25439-overexpression cells grew slower and displayed a tetraploid DNA content in comparison with diploid parental cells. They also showed aberrant mitosis and dysregulated expression of p53, p...