Survivin is a multitasking protein with dual roles in promoting cell proliferation and preventing apoptosis . It is a component of the chromosome passage protein complex (CPC), which is essential for chromosome alignment and segregation during mitosis and cytokinesis . Survivin directs CPC movement to different locations from the inner centromere during prometaphase to the midbody during cytokinesis .
The protein functions by inhibiting caspase activation, thereby leading to the negative regulation of apoptosis . This inhibition is crucial for cell survival, especially in proliferating cells and during fetal development .
Survivin is highly expressed during fetal development and in most human tumors, but its expression is low in adult tissues . This differential expression pattern makes it a potential target for cancer therapy, as it can discriminate between transformed (cancerous) and normal cells .
The overexpression of Survivin in various cancers, including adenocarcinoma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, has been associated with poor prognosis . Its role in inhibiting apoptosis and promoting cell proliferation makes it a key player in tumorigenesis .
Human recombinant BIRC5 can be produced using various expression systems, including bacterial, yeast, and mammalian cells. The recombinant protein is often used in research to study its function, mechanism, and potential as a therapeutic target.