Deleted in breast cancer 1 (DBC1) is a dynamically regulated protein

Abstract

Deleted in breast cancer 1 (DBC1, KIAA1967, p30 DBC) is a novel protein that has been suggested to be a critical regulator of tumorigenesis. DBC1 modulates the activities of various proteins, including SIRT1, ERalpha, RARalpha, and AR. The functions of DBC1 with target molecules have been investigated, but little is known of its molecular characteristics. We found that DBC1 is homo-oligomerized and exhibits a dynamic expression pattern during cell cycle. In addition, DBC1 expression is higher in lung cancer cells than in normal lung fibroblasts and the protein recognized by anti-DBC1 antibodies in normal cells differs from that in lung and breast cancer cells. Further examination of the oligomerization and the dynamic expression of DBC1 during the cell cycle will help us to understand the mechanisms of DBC1 function. Moreover, the elucidation about differential expression of DBC1 between normal cells and cancer cells will aid the development of DBC1 as a diagnostic marker for cancers.