Deleted in lung and esophageal cancer 1 cilia and flagella associated protein (DLEC1)

Deleted in lung and esophageal cancer 1 cilia and flagella associated protein (DLEC1) is a cytoskeletal-associated protein encoded by the DLEC1 gene and strongly linked to both cellular cilia/flagella integrity and tumor suppression. Located at 3p21.3, a region frequently deleted in several cancers, DLEC1 is down-regulated via aberrant promoter methylation, which is believed to promote malignancy; its restoration inhibits tumor cell growth. In mammals, DLEC1 is essential for germ cell–specific expression, with disruption causing male infertility due to defective spermatogenesis, particularly perturbing sperm head/tail structure and motility. Molecularly, DLEC1 binds tubulin and interacts with other protein complexes relevant to cilia and flagella formation, such as BBSome and TRiC. Its ortholog in algae (FAP81) has similar central flagellar roles. Despite its importance in disease and development, no drugs currently target DLEC1 directly, though epigenetic therapies may indirectly affect its function via promoter methylation. DLEC1 is a candidate biomarker for selected cancers, especially where hypermethylation signals loss of tumor suppressor activity.

Other names

DLEC1CFAP81FAP81DLC-1DLC1F56deleted in lung and esophageal cancer 1cilia and flagella associated protein 81deleted in lung and oesophageal cancer 1DLEC1 cilia and flagella associated protein

No drugs currently target DLEC1 directly. Mechanistic modulation in cancer studies is via reversing promoter hypermethylation, leading to restored expression and tumor inhibition.