Unc-5 Homolog A (UNC5A)

UNC5A belongs to a family of netrin-1 receptors thought to mediate the chemorepulsive effect of netrin-1 on specific axons. For more information on UNC5 proteins.

A specific probe detected downregulation of UNC5A in 48% of the colorectal tumors tested, with a loss of heterozygosity frequency of 52%. Histone deacetylase inhibitor increased UNC5C expression in various cancer cell lines, suggesting that epigenetic processes may also downregulate UNC5 expression. Expression of UNC5A, UNC5B, and UNC5C in 293T cells inhibited anchorage-independent growth and invasion. The malignant phenotype was restored by addition of netrin-1 or inhibition of apoptosis.