ABSTRACT During investigation of the mechanisms of programmed cell death, Pdcd4 (programmed cell death 4) was identified as one gene being up-regulated during apoptosis. While the role of Pdcd4 during apoptosis is still unclear, there is emerging evidence that Pdcd4 acts as a tumour suppressor. So far, there is little knowledge about the signal transduction mechanisms of Pdcd4. However, several reports indicate that Pdcd4 acts on different signalling pathways: Pdcd4 interacts via a conserved MA-3 domain with the translation factor eIF4A thereby inhibiting protein synthesis. Furthermore, Pdcd4 reduces the transactivation of the transcription factor complex AP-1, which is involved in neoplastic transformation. Additionally, Pdcd4 seems to possess a RNA binding activity. Because of its participation in apoptosis and tumour suppression Pdcd4 might represent a potential target for new therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment. This review summarizes the current knowledge about Pdcd4.
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