Overview:

p18INK4C is a member of the INK4 family of proteins that regulate the G1 to S cell cycle transition by binding to and inhibiting the pRb kinase activity of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (1). Mutation of p18INK4C impairs B-cell terminal differentiation and confers increased susceptibility to tumor development. p18INK4C can function as a tumor suppressor gene in Hodgkins lymphoma and its inactivation may contribute to the cell cycle deregulation and defective terminal differentiation characteristic of the Reed-Sternberg cells (2).

Gene Aliases:

CDKN2C, p18, INK4C, p18-INK4C

Genbank Number:

NM_001262

References:

1. Ravichandran, N. et al: Structure-based Design of p18INK4c Proteins with Increased Thermodynamic Stability and Cell Cycle Inhibitory Activity. J. Biol. Chem., 2002; 277: 48827-48833.

2. Sánchez-Aguilera,A. et al: Silencing of the p18INK4c gene by promoter hypermethylation in Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin lymphomas. Blood. 2004;103(6):2351-7.