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Target intelligence / Profile preview
T cell receptor gamma alternate reading frame protein (TARP)
- Target
- TARP
- Molecular classification
- Other (cancer-testis antigen, non-classical receptor-like protein), Intracellular protein
01
Overview
T cell receptor gamma alternate reading frame protein (TARP) is a small intracellular protein (7 kDa) expressed from an alternative reading frame of the T cell receptor gamma (TCRG) gene locus. Originally identified in the prostate, TARP is also upregulated in androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells and present in certain breast cancer cell lines, while not expressed by infiltrating T lymphocytes in these tissues. TARP localizes primarily to the mitochondria, specifically the outer mitochondrial membrane in cancer cells, and is thought to play a role in mitochondrial function and possibly as a dimerization motif due to its leucine zipper sequence. TARP is being investigated as a cancer-testis antigen and a target for immunotherapeutic strategies, including TCR (T cell receptor) engineered therapies for prostate cancer, breast cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia. Its distinct intracellular expression and cancer specificity make it a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for certain malignancies.
- Other names
- TARPTCR gamma alternate reading frame proteinT cell receptor gamma chain alternate reading frame proteinT-cell receptor gamma-chain constant regionTCRGCD3GTCRGC1TCRGC2T cell receptor gamma constant 1T cell receptor gamma constant 2
02
Mechanism of action
Immune targeting—engineered T cells recognize and kill TARP-expressing cancer cells
03
Biological functions
Androgen-regulated protein expressionMitochondrial localization and presumably mitochondrial function regulationPotential leucine zipper dimerization (possible protein–protein interaction motif)Implicated in prostate and breast cancer biology
04
Disease associations
Cancer (prostate cancer, breast cancer, acute myeloid leukemia)
05
Safety considerations
Potential off-target effects in immunotherapy approaches due to expression in some non-prostate tissuesRisks associated with immunotherapy targeting TARP-expressing cells are under investigation
06
Interacting drugs
Immunotherapeutics targeting TARP (e.g., TCR-engineered T cells recognizing TARP in cancer cells)
07
Biomarkers
TARP expression is used as a biomarker for prostate cancer and in some breast cancer cell lines
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