Par-4 is a tumor suppressor protein first discovered and identified in 1993 by Dr. Vivek Rangnekar's laboratory in prostate cancer cells undergoing apoptosis.  Par-4 (later also known as PAWR) is a naturally occurring tumor suppressor. Studies have indicated that Par-4 selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells while leaving normal, healthy, cells unaffected. Mechanisms contributing to the cancer-selective action of Par-4 have been associated with protein kinase A activation of intracellular Par-4 in cancer cells or GRP78 expression primarily on the surface of cancer cells. Par-4 is downregulated, inactivated or mutated in diverse cancers. This first of two volumes will be the first on the market on the topic of Par-4, and will provide the opportunity for researchers to discuss the future direction of studies, broaden the scope of research, and contribute a more complete understanding of the molecule's structural features, key functional domains, regulation and relevant basic and clinical/translational facets.

Discovery and Overview of Par-4

Par-4 in cell cycle regulation
Conformational studies of the Par-4 C-terminal Domain
Structural analysis of Par-4 and crystallographic analysis of the regulatory domain
Regulation of Par-4 by Ubiquitinases
REGULATION OF PAR-4 FUNCTION BY PHOSPHORYLATION
Role of Par-4 in GRP78 translocation
PAR-4 in the regulation of stem cell death and embryo development
RASSF2 and the PAR-4 connection
Regulation of tumor suppressor Par-4 by ceramide
PAWR as a direct SRC-1/HOXC11 suppression target
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