Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) also known as deleted in polyposis 2.5 (DP2.5) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the APC gene. Mutations in the APC gene may result in colorectal cancer.
APC is classified as a tumor suppressor gene. Tumor suppressor genes prevent the uncontrolled growth of cells that may result in cancerous tumors. The protein made by the APC gene plays a critical role in several cellular processes that determine whether a cell may develop into a tumor. The APC protein helps control how often a cell divides, how it attaches to other cells within a tissue, or whether a cell moves within or away from a tissue. This protein also helps ensure that the chromosome number in cells produced through cell division is correct. The APC protein accomplishes these tasks mainly through association with other proteins, especially those that are involved in cell attachment and signaling. The activity of one protein in particular, beta-catenin, is controlled by the APC protein (see: Wnt signaling pathway). Regulation of beta-catenin prevents genes that stimulate cell division from being turned on too often and prevents cell overgrowth.
The human APC gene is located on the long (q) arm of chromosome 5 between positions 21 and 22, from base pair 112,118,468 to base pair 112,209,532. The APC gene has been shown to contain an internal ribosome entry site. APC orthologs have also been identified in all mammals for which complete genome data are available.
The full-length human protein comprises 2843 amino acids with a (predicted) molecular mass of 311646 Da. Most domains of this protein are solved structurally and exhibit high intrinsic disorder and flexibility as a monomer, and a low content of stable secondary structure. Thus it is a member of the intrinsically unstructured proteins. Little is known about the in vivo full-length unfolded protein.
Read more about Adenomatous Polyposis Coli: Role in Cancer, Regulation of Proliferation, Mutations, Neurological Role, Interactions