Rhomboid Domain Containing Protein 3 (RHBDD3)

Sodium bisulfite sequencing of individual adenomas showed that 6 of 30 that failed to express PTAG were methylated; genetic change as determined by loss of heterozygosity and sequence analysis was not apparent in the remaining tumors that failed to express this gene. In time course experiments, direct measurement of active caspases by fluorochrome-labeled inhibition of caspases, showed an augmented increase in active caspases in response to bromocriptine challenge in cells expressing C22orf3 relative to those harboring an empty vector control. The ability of cells, showing reduced expression of PTAG, to evade or show a blunted apoptotic response may underlie oncogenic transformation in both the pituitary and other tumor types.