Mcrs1, also known as Microspherule protein 1 or MSP58, is a multifunctional protein involved in various key cellular processes and biological pathways. It is a component of the nonspecific lethal (NSL) complex and the chromatin remodeling INO80 complex, participating in transcriptional regulation during mitosis. It has significant importance in processes like cell cycle regulation, spindle assembly, and embryogenesis [2].

In mouse oocytes, Mcrs1 depletion delays the G2/M transition and disrupts spindle assembly, highlighting its role in cell cycle regulation and spindle organization [2]. Mcrs1 is essential for epiblast development during early mouse embryogenesis; mutant embryos fail to implant due to compromised epiblast lineage [3]. In zebrafish, homozygous mcrs1 mutants show excessive apoptosis, resulting in reduced brain and eye size, and defects in retinal layer formation and melanosome aggregation [5]. In cancer research, high MCRS1 expression in gastric cancer is associated with increased tumor growth, invasiveness, and metastasis, negatively impacting patient survival [4]. In pancreatic cancer, MCRS1 can augment MHC-I expression, sensitizing cancer cells to T cell immunity and enhancing the effectiveness of α -PD-1 therapy [1].

In conclusion, Mcrs1 plays crucial roles in cell cycle regulation, spindle assembly, embryogenesis, and cancer development. Studies using gene knockout (KO) or conditional knockout (CKO) mouse models and other loss-of-function experiments have revealed its significance in these biological processes and disease conditions, providing valuable insights for understanding related mechanisms and potentially developing therapeutic strategies.