Cancer

Nur77 is a member of the steroid/thyroid hormone phosphoprotein receptor superfamily. It is heavily post-translationally modified and rapidly induced in response to androgens and growth factors. It governs fundamental processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. For some time, it was classified as an orphan receptor with no identifiable or known ligand, but scientists finally were able to identify a novel class of methylene-substituted diindolylmethanes (C-DIM) as its endogenous ligand.

Akt1 is a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase involved in many cellular signaling pathways. The major function of this kinase is to mediate cell survival, but it also plays key roles in various other cellular functions such as glycogen synthesis and cell growth. Akt1 acts as a transducer for growth factor receptors that modulate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity. Akt is believed to be a factor in cancer as the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was found to antagonize both PI-3 kinase and Akt kinase activity.

Livin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) family that regulates programmed cell death. The Livin protein contains a single baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) essential for function, along with a COOH-terminal RING-type zinc finger domain. In general, IAP proteins block apoptosis by binding and inhibiting caspases through this BIR domain. Two Livin splicing variants, alpha and beta, have been identified, and each has different anti-apoptotic properties. With Livin expression low in adult tissues, it is somewhat higher in developmental tissues.

Dicer is an RNaseIII-like enzyme capable of cleaving double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into smaller 21-23 nt RNA fragments known as short interfering RNA (siRNAs). It targets the selective degradation of complementary RNAs in a posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS) manner and is key for cell differentiation and development. Unlike long-dsRNA-dependent PTGS which is limited to certain cell types, siRNA can act in a wide variety of cells.

Cells undergo apoptotic programmed cell death in response to various stimuli, and this key mechanism is necessary for cellular morphogenesis, tissue homeostasis, and host defense. Particular cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and the Fas ligand signal through their cooperative death domain-containing receptors tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and Fas. Like its cousin TRAIL-R1, TRAIL-R2 is widely expressed in both normal tissues as well as in many types of tumor cells.

Also known as PROM1 and AC133, this gene is located on chromosome 4p15 and encodes CD133, a 120kDa pentaspan transmembrane glycoprotein (5-TM) and presents multiple spliced variants. Prominin-1 (CD133) was the first protein identified as "Prominin"; originated from the Latin word "Prominere" meaning to protrude and was initially detected on CD34 bright hematopoietic stem cells using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) raised against human CD34⁺cells.

Steroid receptors (SRs) are a superfamily of ligand-dependent nuclear transcription factors that activate responsive genes response to hormone. Androgen receptors (ARs) are found in a wide variety of tissues, including reproductive organs, central nervous system (CNS), and skeletal muscle. AR signaling is fundamental for the development and function of male reproductive organs, but also plays a role in non-reproductive organs such as muscle, hair follicles, and brain.

The CD (Cluster of Differentiation) nomenclature was established in 1982 at the First International Workshop on Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens. It was intended for the classification of leukocytes according to the specific epitopes found at the cell surface, and at this inaugural meeting 139 monoclonal antibodies were evaluated.

Kif2a belongs to the Kinesin-13 microtubule depolymerase family that includes members Kif2a, Kif2b, and Kif2c. These proteins are capable of depolymerizing microtubules (MTs) at their ends. During mitotic cell division, Kif2a specifically localizes to centrosomes and is essential for chromosome organization at the metaphase plate, spindle dynamics and turnover, and bipolar mitotic spindle formation.

NFkB-activating kinase (NAK) is serine/threonine protein kinase that is a member of the IkB kinase (IKK) family and plays a key role in cellular inflammatory responses to foreign stimuli and agents. Fitzgerald, et al.