Characterization of HLS5, a novel tumor suppressor gene

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HLS5 is a novel gene that we recently discovered in our laboratory. Preliminary investigations suggest that HLS5 is similar to a family of genes which act as DNA regulators. We have shown that HLS5 is found on a region of chromosome 8 which is often deleted in human cancers, suggesting that HLS5 is a new tumour suppressor gene i.e.. damage to this gene may be responsible for the formation of certain types of cancer (specifically breast and prostate). Other evidence to support the claim that HLS5 is a tumour suppressor gene comes from the proteins it associates with these partner molecules are involved in DNA repair or DNA regulation. When we introduced HLS5 into cancer cells, it slowed their growth and reduced their ability to form tumours. The aim of this project therefore, is to undertake a detailed analyses of the HLS5 gene and to determine the function of its protein product. A combination of approaches will be used in this study. We will: (i) alter the amount of HLS5 expression in cancer cells, (ii) characterize the proteins which bind to HLS5, (iii) determining where HLS5 localizes in the cell, (iv) analyze mice with lack the gene for HLS5, (v) assess the involvement of HLS5 in a human leukemia (vi) analyze HLS5 messenger RNA which produces the protein, and (vii) determining the structure of HLS5 protein. These studies should provide valuable information on how HLS5 functions, as well as its role in cancer formation.