NDRG1

Function

Stress-responsive protein involved in hormone responses, cell growth, and differentiation. Acts as a tumor suppressor in many cell types. Necessary but not sufficient for p53/TP53-mediated caspase activation and apoptosis. Has a role in cell trafficking, notably of the Schwann cell, and is necessary for the maintenance and development of the peripheral nerve myelin sheath. Required for vesicular recycling of CDH1 and TF. May also function in lipid trafficking. Protects cells from spindle disruption damage. Functions in p53/TP53-dependent mitotic spindle checkpoint. Regulates microtubule dynamics and maintains euploidy.

Involvement in disease

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 4D

CMT4D

A recessive demyelinating form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a disorder of the peripheral nervous system, characterized by progressive weakness and atrophy, initially of the peroneal muscles and later of the distal muscles of the arms. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is classified in two main groups on the basis of electrophysiologic properties and histopathology: primary peripheral demyelinating neuropathies (designated CMT1 when they are dominantly inherited) and primary peripheral axonal neuropathies (CMT2). Demyelinating neuropathies are characterized by severely reduced nerve conduction velocities (less than 38 m/sec), segmental demyelination and remyelination with onion bulb formations on nerve biopsy, slowly progressive distal muscle atrophy and weakness, absent deep tendon reflexes, and hollow feet. By convention autosomal recessive forms of demyelinating Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease are designated CMT4.

None

The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry.

Post-translational modifications

Under stress conditions, phosphorylated in the C-terminal on many serine and threonine residues. Phosphorylated in vitro by PKA. Phosphorylation enhanced by increased intracellular cAMP levels. Homocysteine induces dephosphorylation. Phosphorylation by SGK1 is cell cycle dependent.

Sequence similarities

Belongs to the NDRG family.

Tissue specificity

Ubiquitous; expressed most prominently in placental membranes and prostate, kidney, small intestine, and ovary tissues. Also expressed in heart, brain, skeletal muscle, lung, liver and pancreas. Low levels in peripheral blood leukocytes and in tissues of the immune system. Expressed mainly in epithelial cells. Also found in Schwann cells of peripheral neurons. Reduced expression in adenocarcinomas compared to normal tissues. In colon, prostate and placental membranes, the cells that border the lumen show the highest expression.

Cellular localization

• Cytoplasm
• Cytosol
• Cytoplasm
• Cytoskeleton
• Microtubule organizing center
• Centrosome
• Nucleus
• Cell membrane
• Mainly cytoplasmic but differentially localized to other regions. Associates with the plasma membrane in intestinal epithelia and lactating mammary gland. Translocated to the nucleus in a p53/TP53-dependent manner. In prostate epithelium and placental chorion, located in both the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. No nuclear localization in colon epithelium cells. In intestinal mucosa, prostate and renal cortex, located predominantly adjacent to adherens junctions. Cytoplasmic with granular staining in proximal tubular cells of the kidney and salivary gland ducts. Recruits to the membrane of recycling/sorting and late endosomes via binding to phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate. Associates with microtubules. Colocalizes with TUBG1 in the centrosome. Cytoplasmic location increased with hypoxia. Phosphorylated form found associated with centromeres during S-phase of mitosis and with the plasma membrane.

Alternative names

• Protein NDRG1
• Differentiation-related gene 1 protein
• N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 protein
• Nickel-specific induction protein Cap43
• Reducing agents and tunicamycin-responsive protein
• Rit42
• DRG-1
• RTP
• CAP43
• DRG1
• RTP
• NDRG1

Database links

• entrezGene:10397
• omim:605262
• swissprot:Q92597

Target type

Proteins

Primary research area

Oncology

Other research areas

• Neuroscience

Molecular weight

42835Da