Survivin
Survivin (BIRC5, baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 5, also known as API4 and EPR-1) is a multitasking member of the IAP family. It promotes cell proliferation and prevents apoptosis, and it forms part of the chromosomal passenger complex that drives mitosis. Browse Assay Genie's current range of Survivin research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
Survivin is a multitasking protein with dual roles in promoting cell proliferation and preventing apoptosis. It is a component of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), which is essential for chromosome alignment and segregation during mitosis and cytokinesis. Survivin regulates where the complex sits, directing it from the inner centromere during prometaphase to the midbody during cytokinesis, and it helps organise the central spindle by associating with polymerised microtubules. Recruitment of the CPC to centromeres in early mitosis depends on association with histone H3 phosphorylated at Thr-3.
Survivin also acts in other settings. In a complex with RAN it serves as a physical scaffold that delivers the RAN effector TPX2 to microtubules, supporting mitotic spindle formation. On the apoptotic side, it may counteract a default induction of apoptosis in G2/M phase, inhibits caspase-3 and caspase-7, and is essential for maintaining mitochondrial integrity and function. The acetylated form represses STAT3 transactivation of target gene promoters. Reflecting its roles in proliferation, survivin may play a part in neoplasia.
The BIRC5 gene belongs to the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) gene family. Most IAP proteins carry several baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) domains, but survivin has only a single BIR domain and lacks a C-terminal RING finger. Gene expression is high during foetal development and in most tumours, yet low in adult tissues. Alternative splicing gives distinct isoforms: isoforms 2 and 3 do not appear to play vital roles in mitosis, and isoform 3 shows a marked reduction in anti-apoptotic effect compared with the wild-type isoform. The protein was previously named apoptosis inhibitor 4.
Survivin is part of the chromosomal passenger complex required for chromosome alignment and segregation during mitosis and cytokinesis.
As an IAP family member that inhibits caspase-3 and caspase-7, survivin is studied for how cells resist apoptotic death.
Expression is high in most tumours yet low in adult tissues, and survivin may play a role in neoplasia.
Survivin binds phosphorylated histone H3 at centromeres and, with RAN, helps deliver TPX2 to microtubules for spindle formation.
Survivin has dual roles in promoting cell proliferation and preventing apoptosis. It belongs to the chromosomal passenger complex needed for chromosome alignment and segregation in mitosis and cytokinesis, inhibits caspase-3 and caspase-7, and is needed to maintain mitochondrial integrity and function.
Survivin is encoded by BIRC5 and is also called API4 and EPR-1; an earlier name was apoptosis inhibitor 4. Alternative splicing produces distinct isoforms. Isoforms 2 and 3 do not appear to be vital in mitosis, and isoform 3 has much weaker anti-apoptotic activity.
Mouse and rat both have a Birc5 ortholog; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity. Survivin expression is high in foetal development and most tumours but low in adult tissues, and the protein may play a role in neoplasia.
Other baculoviral IAP repeat-containing proteins from the same family, with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt O15392; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.