REST/NRSF: Proteins and Enzymes

REST, which is short for RE1-silencing transcription factor, locks down neuronal genes in other cells by grabbing onto the DNA and cementing in other molecules, an arrangement that stays intact as non-neuronal cells differentiate into liver, muscle, and other tissues. REST uses a different temporary off mechanism to direct neuronal development. REST is a tumor suppressor gene in epithelial cells and has been found to be mutated in 33 percent of colorectal tumors and cell lines studied. Rest could eventually serve as a marker for diagnosing colorectal and other types of cancer.