Deleted in Pancreatic Carcinoma Locus 4

Synonyms

SMA- and MAD-related protein 4; SMAD4; DPC4; Mother against decapentaplegic, drosophila, homolog of 4; MADH4

Definition

Deleted in Pancreatic Carcinoma Locus 4 (DPC4), belongs to the class of tumor suppressor genes (tumor suppressor genes). It was identified within chromosomal band 18q21.1 which is frequently deleted in pancreatic carcinoma. DPC4 is a component of the transcription complex (transcriptional complex) that mediates cell surface signals to the nucleus which are initiated by transforming growth factor β [ TGF-β ]-related growth and differentiation factors.

Characteristics

The open reading frame of DPC4 spans 1656 nucleotides and comprises 11 exons that code for a 60 kD protein (552 amino acids). DPC4 belongs to the highly conserved family of Smad genes that has been identified by protein sequence homology studies. The founding member Mad (Mother against decapentaplegic), was identified in Drosophila melanogaster.