Apoptosis and tumor resistance conferred by Par-4

Cancer Biol Ther. 2008 Dec;7(12):1867-74. doi: 10.4161/cbt.7.12.6945. Epub 2008 Dec 8.

Abstract

Par-4 is a tumor suppressor protein with a pro-apoptotic function. Epigenetic silencing of Par-4 is seen in diverse tumors and Par-4 knockout mice develop spontaneous tumors in various tissues. Endogenous Par-4 is essential for sensitization of cells to diverse apoptotic stimuli, whereas ectopic expression of Par-4 can selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells. The cancer-specific pro-apoptotic action of Par-4 resides in its centrally located SAC domain. This review emphasizes the role of Par-4/SAC in apoptosis and tumor resistance. SAC transgenic mice display normal development and life span, and, most importantly, are resistant to spontaneous, as well as oncogene-induced, autochthonous tumors. The tumor resistant phenotype and undetectable toxicity of SAC in vivo suggests the SAC domain possesses tremendous therapeutic potential.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics*
  • Chickens / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Pan troglodytes / genetics
  • Phosphorylation
  • Receptors, Thrombin / deficiency
  • Receptors, Thrombin / genetics
  • Receptors, Thrombin / physiology*
  • Xenopus laevis / genetics
  • Zebrafish / genetics

Substances

  • Receptors, Thrombin
  • protease-activated receptor 4