Reprimo Like Protein (RPRML)

REPRIMO is a radiation-inducible, p53 dependent gene that is commonly hypermethylated and silenced in various GI malignancies and confers a poorer prognosis. A second gene called Reprimo-like (RPRML) that is highly homologous to REPRIMO and conserved from Xenopus to mammals.

This gene is inducible with gamma-irradiation, and like REPRIMO, is also p53 dependent. Unlike Reprimo, RPRML does not have effects on the cell cycle dynamics. However siRNA knockdown of RPRML induced apoptosis and radiation sensitization.RPRML gene silencing by promoter hypermethylation may confer tumor sensitivity to radiation treatment. RPRML methylation may be a useful marker to determine radiation sensitivity in pancreatic cancer patients.