A common regulator of cell cycle and apoptosis——Survivin (A review)

Cell cycle and apoptosis are thought to be intimately linked processes in life activities. Although regulators of apoptosis are involved in regulation of cell cycle, the common regulators of cell cycle and apoptosis are still few. A new inhibitor of apoptosis, survivin, has been found as a dual functional molecule controlling of apoptosis and mitotic spindle checkpoint, which also gives a powerful proof for that cell cycle and apoptosis are intimately linked processes. On the other hand, it's expression and distribution are very beneficial to proliferation,so that it may be an important regulator in cancer cells.