Members of the E2F transcription factor family (E2F-1–E2F-5) are believed to be critical positive regulators of cell cycle progression in eukaryotes although the in vivo functions of the individual E2Fs have not been elucidated. Mice were generated that lack E2F-1 and, surprisingly, these mice develop and reproduce normally. However, E2F-1−/− mice exhibit a defect in T lymphocyte development leading to an excess of mature T cells due to a maturation stage-specific defect in thymocyte apoptosis. As E2F-1−/− mice age they exhibit a second phenotype marked by aberrant cell proliferation. These findings suggest that while certain members of the E2F family may positively regulate cell cycle progression, E2F-1 functions to regulate apoptosis and to suppress cell proliferation.
