| Background | Cyclin-dependent kinases are positive regulators of cell proliferation. p57 protein acts as a tumor suppressor to counter this. It is closely related to other CDKIs such as p21 protein (CIP1) and p27 protein (Kip1) as they share a common structural N-terminal domain for binding to CDK/cyclin complexes and inhibiting their kinase activity. Human p57 protein is found on chromosome 11p15.5, a region which is reported to be a common site for loss of heterozygosity in certain sarcomas, Wilms tumors and tumors associated with the Beckwith-Wiedermann syndrome. There is increasing interest in p57 as a marker in gestational disease. Gestational trophoblastic disease refers to a spectrum of proliferative disorders of the placental trophoblast, with a wide range of histologic appearances and clinical behaviors. |
Information sourced from Uniprot.org
