The BRCA-1 gene codes for a nuclear phosphoprotein that plays a role in maintaining genomic stability and acts as a tumor suppressor. The normal gene plays a role in repairing breaks in DNA. If a mutation occurs in this gene the repair function may become disabled thus leading to more DNA replication errors and neoplastic growth. Current findings suggest that BRCA-1 may play an as yet undefined protective role in cells, as it is strongly expressed in epithelial cells undergoing high levels of proliferation in association with differentiation. Additional findings have det ermined that complete loss of BRCA-1 nuclear expression in breast cancer and the correlation with poor prognostic markers imply that the altered BRCA-1 phenotype may provide an added prognostic parameter for breast cancer and could be applied for a potential rapid screening technique to identify BRCA-1 mutations (Shipping Cost: €200.00)

SOX9 [EP317]

Sox9 is a transcription factor with an HMG-box DNA binding domain that has homology to the HMG domain of the mammalian testis-determining factor, SRY. Sox9 regulates several important processes during embryonic development including chondrogenesis, during which it contributes to skeletal formation and digit specification. Sox9 also coordinates with steroidogenic factor-1 to direct Sertoli cell-specific expression of anti-Mullerian hormone during embryogenesis, thereby contributing to male sex determination. In addition, Sox9 is reportedly involved in the maintenance of adult stem cell populations, including multipotent neural stem cells, hair follicle stem cells, and mammary stem cells. Recent interest has focused on the role of Sox9 in tumor biology. For example, research studies have shown that Sox9 expression in lung adenocarcinoma induces a mesenchymal phenotype in tumor cells. Other research studies have shown that YAP1 induced upregulation of Sox9 confers cancer stem cell like properties on esophageal cancer cells (9). Moreover, Sox9 expression has been linked with several other tumor types including ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic malignancies.

SOX9 [EP317]