Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 7 (BIRC7) (BIRC7)

Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 7 (BIRC7), also known as Livin or ML-IAP, is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family that plays a pivotal role in suppressing programmed cell death (UniProt Q96CA5). It functions by binding to and inhibiting the activity of caspases 3, 7, and 9 through its baculoviral IAP repeat (BIR) domain, thereby promoting cell survival (NCBI Gene ID: 79444). BIRC7 is highly expressed in various malignancies, such as melanoma, lung cancer, and leukemia, but is largely absent in normal adult tissues, making it a highly specific target for oncology (PubMed: 11084335). Targeting BIRC7 mRNA using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) has been shown to effectively downregulate protein levels and sensitize resistant cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiation (PubMed: 15671245). These RNA-targeted strategies aim to overcome the anti-apoptotic threshold maintained by BIRC7 in tumor cells. While primarily experimental, these approaches represent a promising avenue for precision medicine in cancers where BIRC7 is overexpressed.

Other names

LivinMelanoma inhibitor of apoptosis proteinML-IAPKidney inhibitor of apoptosis proteinKIAPBaculoviral IAP repeat-containing 7

Antisense-mediated mRNA degradation and RNA interference-mediated gene silencing