Final answer:
The von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL) primarily inhibits angiogenesis to suppress tumor growth by preventing blood supply to tumor tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL) is involved in a variety of cellular processes. However, when it comes to cancer, one of its primary roles is to inhibit angiogenesis, which is the growth of new blood vessels. By doing this, pVHL can prevent the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tumorous tissues, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. Tumor suppressor genes like VHL typically work to control cell division and prevent cells from dividing uncontrollably, which is a hallmark of cancer.
Functions of Tumor Suppressor Genes
- Stop certain cells from dividing when there are errors in the DNA.
- Induce repair mechanisms or induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) if the damage cannot be repaired.
- Prevent unregulated cell division and suppress malignant tumor growth.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question 'The von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL) __?' is 'inhibits angiogenesis'.