Translationally controlled tumour protein

The translationally controlled tumour protein, commonly known as TCTP, is a highly conserved protein among many eukaryotic organisms. TCTP is involved in a variety of cellular activities, including microtubule stabilization, calcium-binding activities, and apoptosis. The Mammalian translationally controlled tumour protein (TCTP) (or P23) is a protein which has been found to be preferentially synthesised in cells during the early growth phase of some types of tumour, but which is also expressed in normal cells. It was first identified as a histamine-releasing factor, acting in IgE +-dependent allergic reactions. In addition, TCTP has been shown to bind to tubulin in the cytoskeleton, has a high affinity for calcium, is the binding target for the antimalarial compound artemisinin, and is induced in vitamin D-dependent apoptosis. TCTP production is thought to be controlled at the translational as well as the transcriptional level. The translationally controlled tumour protein, commonly known as TCTP, is a highly conserved protein among many eukaryotic organisms. TCTP is involved in a variety of cellular activities, including microtubule stabilization, calcium-binding activities, and apoptosis. The Mammalian translationally controlled tumour protein (TCTP) (or P23) is a protein which has been found to be preferentially synthesised in cells during the early growth phase of some types of tumour, but which is also expressed in normal cells. It was first identified as a histamine-releasing factor, acting in IgE +-dependent allergic reactions. In addition, TCTP has been shown to bind to tubulin in the cytoskeleton, has a high affinity for calcium, is the binding target for the antimalarial compound artemisinin, and is induced in vitamin D-dependent apoptosis. TCTP production is thought to be controlled at the translational as well as the transcriptional level. TCTP is a hydrophilic protein of 18 to 20 kD. TCTPs do not share significant sequence similarity with any other class of proteins. Recently, the structure of TCTP was determined and exhibited significant structural similarity to the human protein Mss4, which is a guanine nucleotide-free chaperone of the Rab protein. Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a highly conserved protein found in eukaryotes, across animal and plant kingdoms and even in yeast. Close homologues have been found in plants, earthworm, Caenorhabditis elegans (F52H2.11), Hydra, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (YKL056c) , Schizosaccharomyces pombe (SpAC1F12.02c) and protozoa like Trypanosoma brucei . Mammalian TCTP is ubiquitously expressed in various tissues and cell types.