CIDEC: Proteins and Enzymes

DNA fragmentation is one of the critical steps in apoptosis, which is induced by DNA fragmentation factor (DFF). DFF is composed of two subunits, a 40 kDa caspase-activated nuclease (DFF40) and a 45 kDa inhibitor (DFF45). Recently a novel family of cell-death-inducing DFF45-like effectors (CIDEs) has been identified. Human CIDE-3 is a novel member of CIDEs. There are 2 transcripts, CIDE-3 and CIDE-3alpha, were present in HepG2 and A375 cells. Consistent with its chromosome localization at 3p25, a region associated with high frequency loss of heterozygosity in many tumors, CIDE-3 may play an important role in prevention of tumorigenesis.