Zbtb7
Encyclopedia
Zbtb7, originally named Pokemon, is a gene
that may act as a master switch for cancer
, and is responsible for the proliferation of cancer throughout surrounding cells. The leader of the research team which discovered this, geneticist
Pier Paolo Pandolfi
from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
(MSKCC) in New York City
, said the gene is unique in that it is needed for other oncogene
s to cause cancer. Discovery of the gene was first published in the January 2005 issue of Nature
.
The original name, Pokemon, stands for "POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic factor" and is most likely a backronym
of the Pokémon
media franchise
. Nintendo
subsidiary Pokémon USA, not wanting the bad press inherent with its trademark sharing a name with a cancer-causing gene, threatened the center with legal action in December 2005, at which point MSKCC decided to rename it as Zbtb7.
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
that may act as a master switch for cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, and is responsible for the proliferation of cancer throughout surrounding cells. The leader of the research team which discovered this, geneticist
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
Pier Paolo Pandolfi
Pier Paolo Pandolfi
Dr. Pier Paolo Pandolfi is an award-winning research geneticist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The research carried out in Dr...
from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center is a cancer treatment and research institution founded in 1884 as the New York Cancer Hospital...
(MSKCC) in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, said the gene is unique in that it is needed for other oncogene
Oncogene
An oncogene is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, they are often mutated or expressed at high levels.An oncogene is a gene found in the chromosomes of tumor cells whose activation is associated with the initial and continuing conversion of normal cells into cancer...
s to cause cancer. Discovery of the gene was first published in the January 2005 issue of Nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
.
The original name, Pokemon, stands for "POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic factor" and is most likely a backronym
Backronym
A backronym or bacronym is a phrase constructed purposely, such that an acronym can be formed to a specific desired word. Backronyms may be invented with serious or humorous intent, or may be a type of false or folk etymology....
of the Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
media franchise
Media franchise
A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...
. Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
subsidiary Pokémon USA, not wanting the bad press inherent with its trademark sharing a name with a cancer-causing gene, threatened the center with legal action in December 2005, at which point MSKCC decided to rename it as Zbtb7.
See also
- Sonic hedgehogSonic hedgehogSonic hedgehog homolog is one of three proteins in the mammalian signaling pathway family called hedgehog, the others being desert hedgehog and Indian hedgehog . SHH is the best studied ligand of the hedgehog signaling pathway. It plays a key role in regulating vertebrate organogenesis, such as...
, a protein that is named after a video game character. - PikachurinPikachurinPikachurin, also known as protein-like polysaccharide and EGF-like, fibronectin type-III and laminin G-like domain-containing polysaccharide , is a polysaccharide that in humans is encoded by the EGFLAM gene...
, a retinal protein named after a Pokémon character.