DEPDC1B

DEPDC1B Full Name

DEP domain containing 1B

DEPDC1B Introduction

DEPDC1B, short for DEP domain containing 1B, is a protein-coding gene that plays a significant role in the regulation of cell division and cytoskeletal dynamics. It belongs to the DEP domain-containing family, a group of proteins characterized by the presence of the highly conserved DEP (Disheveled, Egl-10, and Pleckstrin) domain, which is typically involved in protein-protein interactions and membrane localization. DEPDC1B has garnered increasing attention in biomedical research due to its emerging roles in cancer biology, where its expression is often dysregulated. Functionally, it is considered a key player in the intricate machinery that controls mitosis and cell proliferation.The DEP domain itself is a globular protein module of approximately 80-100 amino acids, which allows DEPDC1B to interact with various signaling molecules, often relaying information from G-protein coupled receptors or other upstream signals. Beyond the DEP domain, DEPDC1B contains other conserved motifs that facilitate its localization to specific cellular compartments, such as the cytoplasm and the mitotic spindle. During the cell cycle, DEPDC1B is involved in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton and the formation of the contractile ring, which is essential for successful cytokinesis. It interacts with small GTPases like RhoA, modulating their activity to ensure proper cell division and shape changes during the final stage of mitosis.

Figure1. DEP domains: structurally similar but functionally different. (Consonni S V, Maurice M M, Bos J L. 2014)

Role in the Cell Cycle and Cytokinesis
One of the most well-characterized functions of DEPDC1B is its critical role during cytokinesis, the physical separation of two daughter cells after chromosome segregation. It localizes to the midbody, a transient organelle that forms at the site of cell abscission, and helps coordinate the final cut. By regulating actin dynamics and the recruitment of essential contractile proteins, DEPDC1B ensures the cleavage furrow ingresses correctly and that cell division is completed without errors. Dysfunction or depletion of DEPDC1B has been shown to result in multinucleated cells and cytokinesis failure, underscoring its essential role in maintaining genomic stability and cell integrity.

Clinical Significance and Cancer Association
Overexpression of DEPDC1B has been consistently observed in a wide variety of human malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma. Its elevated expression is often correlated with poor patient prognosis, advanced tumor grade, and increased metastatic potential. In cancer cells, DEPDC1B promotes aggressive phenotypes by enhancing cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. This makes it a potential oncogene and an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Moreover, its role in maintaining the mitotic process may render cancer cells particularly vulnerable to DEPDC1B inhibition, offering a promising strategy for developing novel anti-cancer drugs.

Alternate Names for DEPDC1B

DEPDC1B; DEP domain containing 1B; DEP domain-containing protein 1B; BRCC3; breast cancer cell 3; XTP1; HBxAg transactivated protein 1; HBV XAg-transactivated protein 8; HBV X-transactivated gene 8 protein; FLJ11252;

• 1.Consonni S V, Maurice M M, Bos J L. DEP domains: structurally similar but functionally different Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2014, 15(5): 357-362.