Clusterin Associated Protein 1 (CLUAP1)

CLUAP1 is a nuclear protein commonly upregulated in colon cancers. It encodes a nuclear protein of 413 amino acids containing a coiled-coil domain. Associated with nuclear clusterin in a yeast two-hybrid system. Its expression gradually increases in the late S to G2/M phases of cell cycle and it returns to the basal level in the G0/G1 phases. RNAi suppression of this gene resulted in growth retardation in the transfected cells.

CLUAP1 is a human osteosarcoma tumor-associated antigen recognized by the humoral immune system. Overexpression of CLUAP1 was observed in other malignancies including ovarian, colon, and lung cancers. CLUAP1 may be useful as a prognostic/diagnostic marker and/or for a target of immunotherapy of osteosarcoma.