This gene encodes an endopeptidase that cleaves specific substrates following aspartate residues. The encoded protein undergoes posttranslational autoproteolytic processing to generate alpha and beta subunits, which reassemble into the active alpha2-beta2 heterotetramer. It is required to cleave MLL, a protein required for the maintenance of HOX gene expression, and TFIIA, a basal transcription factor. Cleavage of TFIIA has been found to drive spermatogenesis.[3]
Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described, but their biological validity has not been determined.[2]
Clinical significance
Taspase1 is overexpressed in primary human cancers and functions as a non-oncogene addiction protease that coordinates cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. Therefore, Taspase1 may serve as a novel anti-cancer therapeutic target.[4]
References
↑Hsieh JJ, Cheng EH, Korsmeyer SJ (Nov 2003). "Taspase1: a threonine aspartase required for cleavage of MLL and proper HOX gene expression". Cell. 115 (3): 293–303. doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(03)00816-X. PMID14636557.
Khan JA, Dunn BM, Tong L (2006). "Crystal structure of human Taspase1, a crucial protease regulating the function of MLL". Structure. 13 (10): 1443–52. doi:10.1016/j.str.2005.07.006. PMID16216576.
Ota T, Suzuki Y, Nishikawa T, et al. (2004). "Complete sequencing and characterization of 21,243 full-length human cDNAs". Nat. Genet. 36 (1): 40–5. doi:10.1038/ng1285. PMID14702039.
Deloukas P, Matthews LH, Ashurst J, et al. (2002). "The DNA sequence and comparative analysis of human chromosome 20". Nature. 414 (6866): 865–71. doi:10.1038/414865a. PMID11780052.
