DIRAS3 Gene

Defintion:
DIRAS family, GTP-binding RAS-like 3,

Chromosome:1

Position:1p31

Gene Size: 4816 bp  (68289048 to68284233 Complement)

No of Exons: Not Known

Description:

DIRAS3 gene is a member of the Ras Superfamily ,Genes in this family provide instructions for making proteins that control cell growth and maturation. The DIRAS3 protein differs from other proteins in the Ras family in that it suppresses the growth of cells, whereas other Ras family proteins encourage cell growth. Genes that suppress cell growth and division are known as tumor suppressor genes. The proteins made from these genes keep cells from growing and dividing too fast or in an uncontrolled way.

Disease :

Research has shown that the tumor suppressor gene DIRAS3 is often downregulated in breast cancer cells, which means its activity is drastically reduced. In some cases, the gene is totally inactivated or lost. Because of genomic imprinting, cells normally have only one working copy of the DIRAS3 gene, the paternal copy. If this copy of the gene is inactivated or lost, cells produce little or no functional DIRAS3 protein. Without enough of this protein, cells can grow and divide too fast and in an uncontrolled manner. This abnormal cell division likely contributes to the growth and progression of cancerous tumors.Loss or inactivation of the paternal copy of the DIRAS3 gene is also associated with ovarian cancer. As in breast cancer cells, a shortage of the DIRAS3 protein may allow certain cells in the ovaries to grow and divide too fast and in an uncontrolled manner. This abnormal cell division is associated with the growth and progression of cancerous tumors. Downregulation of the DIRAS3 gene has also been reported in certain forms of uterine cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, and a cancer of the thyroid gland called follicular thyroid carcinoma.