The SERPINB3 gene encodes a protein that consists of 390 amino acids . It belongs to the serine protease inhibitor family, which functions by inhibiting proteases through a suicide substrate mechanism. Upon proteolytic cleavage of their reactive site loop, serpins undergo a conformational rearrangement that traps the covalently attached protease in an inactive form .
SERPINB3 plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including:
SERPINB3 is clinically significant as a tumor marker for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It is detected in the cytoplasm of normal and some malignant squamous cells. Elevated levels of SERPINB3 are associated with various types of squamous cell carcinoma, including those of the cervix, head and neck, lung, and esophagus . The protein’s levels fall after tumor resection and rise in patients with recurrent disease .