The Emerging Role of p27 in Development of Diseases

Abstract

The cell cycle regulation and tumor suppressor p27 encoded by CDKN1B plays a key role in many cellular events.1-3 p27 is a member of the Cip/Kip family of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors, which functions to negatively regulate cell cycle progression at the G1/S boundary in response to antiproliferative stimuli. In addition, numerous p27 functions, not related to CDK inhibition, have been described. For instance, cytosolic p27 plays a role in the regulation of cytoskeleton assembly/disassembly, therefore, regulates the cell morphology and movement. In addition, p27 is involved in apoptosis and autophagy modulation.