Spécificité
The Rho subfamily of Ras-related GTPases controls multiple aspects of cell function, including cytoskeletal rearrangement, nuclear signaling and cell growth. DBC-2 (deleted in breast cancer 2 gene protein), also known as RHOBTB2 (Rho-related BTB domain-containing protein 2), is a 727 amino acid member of the RhoBTB subfamily of Rho GTPases. Members of the RhoBTB subfamily are evolutionarily conserved and are characterized by a proline-rich region, a GTPase domain and two tandem BTB repeats. Expressed ubiquitously with highest levels in neural tissue, heart, brain and fetal lung, DBC-2 contains two BTB (POZ) domains through which it may bind to and regulate the function of target proteins, such as CUL-3. Additionally, DBC-2 is thought to function as a regulator of cell cycle and apoptosis events. Under normal conditions, DBC-2 is thought to exhibit tumor suppressor activity. Mutations in the gene encoding DBC-2 are associated with breast cancer, suggesting that mutated DBC-2 may play a role in carcinogenesis.