This family includes the hamartin protein which is thought to function as a tumour suppressor. The hamartin protein interacts with the tuberin protein Pfam:PF03542. Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder and is characterised by the presence of hamartomas in many organs, such as brain, skin, heart, lung, and kidney. It is caused by mutation either TSC1 or TSC2 tumour suppressor gene. TSC1 encodes a protein, hamartin, containing two coiled-coil regions, which have been shown to mediate binding to tuberin. The TSC2 gene codes for tuberin Pfam:PF03542. These two proteins function within the same pathway(s) regulating cell cycle, cell growth, adhesion, and vesicular trafficking [1].

1: PI3K/AKT pathway regulates TSC tumor suppressor complex by phosphorylation of tuberin. Dan HC, Sun M, Yang L, Feldman RI, Sui XM, Yeung RS, Halley DJ, Nicosia SV, Pledger WJ, Cheng JQ; J Biol Chem 2002;0:0-0. PMID:12167664