hNinein is required for targeting spindle-associated protein Astrin to the centrosome during the S and G2 phases.

Human Ninein (hNinein) is implicated in centrosomal microtubule nucleation and microtubule anchoring in interphase cells and may act as a scaffold protein, but its direct interaction partners remain unexplored in the centrosome. In this report, we show clearly that a spindle-associated protein, Astrin, interacts and co-localizes with hNinein at the centrosome during the S and G2 phases, and this complex may dissociate in the M phase. We also demonstrate that the truncated forms of hNinein, which could interfere with gamma-tubulin and function as dominant-negative mutants, are able to affect Astrin localization to the centrosome.

Identification of a novel cell cycle regulated gene, HURP, overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

An analytic strategy was followed to identify putative regulatory genes during the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This strategy employed a bioinformatics analysis that used a database search to identify genes, which are differentially expressed in human HCC and are also under cell cycle regulation. A novel cell cycle regulated gene (HURP) that is overexpressed in HCC was identified.