Thyroid cancer protein 1 (TC1) is thought to decrease in apoptosis and increase cell proliferation. It is found to be expressed in thyroid papillary carcinoma [1]. This suggests its importance in thyroid cancer. The molecular mechanism of TC1, involves up-regulating cell signalling through ERK-1/2 signalling pathway and it positively regulates transition between the G1 and S phase in the cell cycle [2]. It is thought to positively regulate Wnt/beta-catenin signalling pathway by interacting with its repressor [3]. In humans, it is located in the chromosomal position, C8orf4. This family of proteins is found in eukaryotes and contains a conserved NIF sequence motif.

1: TC-1 is a novel tumorigenic and natively disordered protein associated with thyroid cancer. Sunde M, McGrath KC, Young L, Matthews JM, Chua EL, Mackay JP, Death AK; Cancer Res. 2004;64:2766-2773. PMID:15087392

2: TC1 (C8orf4) is involved in ERK1/2 pathway-regulated G(1)- to S-phase transition. Wang YD, Bian GH, Lv XY, Zheng R, Sun H, Zhang Z, Chen Y, Li QW, Xiao Y, Yang QT, Ai JZ, Wei YQ, Zhou Q; BMB Rep. 2008;41:733-738. PMID:18959821

3: The intrinsically disordered TC-1 interacts with Chibby via regions with high helical propensity. Gall C, Xu H, Brickenden A, Ai X, Choy WY; Protein Sci. 2007;16:2510-2518. PMID:17905836