[Highly expressed protein in cancer (Hec 1) and chromosome instability]

Highly expressed in cancer (Hec 1), locating at centromere during cell mitosis, plays an important role in the pathway of spindle checkpoint. Hec 1-Nuf 2 complex is the structural basis for the recruitment of Mad 1/Mad 2 complex of spindle checkpoint. Hec 1 can interact with the subunit of 26S proteasome and inhibit the degradation of cyclins. It was initially identified as a protein interacting with Rb by yeast two-hybridization assay. Rb interacts with Hec 1 to regulate the binding ability of Smc 1 with DNA and participates in the regulation of M phase. Hec 1 mainly expresses at G2/M phase and functions through the phosphorylation by kinase Nek 2. Hec 1 is over expressed in some cancer cell lines and amplified in tumor tissues. The dysfunction of Hec 1 gene may cause severe impediment of chromosome separation and finally lead to chromosome instability, which is closely associated with the occurrence and development of tumors. Therefore, Hec 1 may become a new target of tumor gene therapy.