Abstract
To elucidate molecular mechanism of multi-step carcinogenesis, we have identified genes specifically expressed in renal carcinomas from Eker rat model by differential cloning approach. Niban is one of such genes and is expressed even in the earliest pre-neoplastic lesion (phenotypically altered tubule) . Human NIBAN homologue is specifically expressed in malignancies such as renal or thyroid cancers. We recently found that Niban is a member of a protein family. From the expression profile of Niban/NIBAN, the importance of Niban protein function during carcinogenesis is anticipated. However, its function has been totally unkown. To analyze function of Niban, we generated Niban knockout mouse. So far, we have obtained evidences for the relation between Niban and ER stress as well as eIF2α and S6K/4E-BP1 phosphorylation.
