The function of tumor suppressor

Tumor suppressor genes can be further classified into gatekeepers and caretakers. Gatekeepers are genes that are responsible for controlling inhibition of cell growth; they are the guardians of the cell cycle.

Caretakers, as the name suggests, are genes that take care of genome stability. Genome instability can arise owing to mutations in DNA or rearrangements that occur in the chromosomal level. The caretaker genes protect the genome by maintaining and repairing DNA damages; they are involved in nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair, nonhomologous end joining recombination pathways, mismatch repair pathways, and telomere metabolism.