UV Radiation Resistance Associated Gene Protein (UVRAG)

UVRAG complements the ultraviolet sensitivity of xeroderma pigmentosum group C cells and encodes a protein with a C2 domain. The protein activates the Beclin1-PI(3)KC3 complex, promoting autophagy and suppressing the proliferation and tumorigenicity of human colon cancer cells. Chromosomal aberrations involving this gene are associated with left-right axis malformation and mutations in this gene have been associated with colon cancerUVRAG mRNA encodes a predicted 648-amino acid protein. UVRAG protein either is localized within an organelle or is part of the cytoskeleton. Northern blot analysis showed that UVRAG is expressed ubiquitously in humans; it was also present in most of the vertebrate species tested.