PLAC8: Placenta-Specific 8 Gene
A multifunctional gene involved in trophoblast differentiation, immune modulation, and cancer progression.
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | PLAC8 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Placenta-specific 8 |
| Gene Type | Protein-coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 4q21.22 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 51316 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/51316 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000145287 |
| UniProt ID | Q9NZP8 |
| OMIM ID | 611223 |
| HGNC ID | 19254 |
| Aliases | C15, DGIC, Onzin, PLAC8A |
Description
PLAC8 (placenta-specific 8) encodes a small, cysteine-rich protein that is highly expressed in the placenta and plays a critical role in trophoblast differentiation and placental development. It is also expressed in various immune cells and epithelial tissues, where it modulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, and immune responses. PLAC8 has been implicated in several cancers, including colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancer, often exhibiting context-dependent oncogenic or tumor-suppressive functions.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Colorectal Cancer | PLAC8 overexpression promotes tumor growth and metastasis via NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. | PMID: 25605248 |
| Pancreatic Cancer | PLAC8 is upregulated and associated with poor prognosis; enhances cell migration and invasion. | PMID: 27323851 |
| Breast Cancer | PLAC8 expression correlates with aggressive subtypes and may regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition. | PMID: 29187737 |
| Placental Insufficiency | Reduced PLAC8 expression linked to impaired trophoblast invasion and preeclampsia. | PMID: 20610758 |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Placenta | 1234.5 | High |
| Lung | 45.2 | Medium |
| Colon | 32.1 | Medium |
| Breast | 12.3 | Low |
| Pancreas | 8.9 | Low |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| JEG-3 (choriocarcinoma) | 156.7 | Trophoblast model |
| HCT116 (colorectal) | 89.4 | Colon cancer line |
| MCF-7 (breast) | 22.1 | Low expression |
| PANC-1 (pancreatic) | 67.8 | Pancreatic cancer line |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| c.152C>T (p.Ser51Leu) | Missense | <0.1% | Unknown functional impact |
| c.218G>A (p.Arg73His) | Missense | <0.1% | Reported in COSMIC; uncertain significance |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
Not well characterized; no confirmed LOF variants reported.
Gain of Function (GOF)
Overexpression in cancers suggests potential GOF in tumor progression.
Dominant Negative (DN)
No evidence for dominant-negative effects.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
| • protein binding (GO:0005515) | • cell proliferation (GO:0008283) |
| • negative regulation of apoptotic process (GO:0043066) | • signal transduction (GO:0007165) |
Pathways
• NF-kappa B signaling pathway
• Wnt signaling pathway
• Apoptosis
Protein Summary
PLAC8 is a small, 112-amino-acid protein with a conserved cysteine-rich domain. It localizes to the cytoplasm and plasma membrane. The protein is involved in regulating cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation, particularly in placental trophoblasts. In cancer, PLAC8 can act as an oncogene by promoting cell migration and invasion, though its exact molecular mechanisms remain under investigation.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLAC8 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ2157 | Human | 51316 | Details Get a Quote |
| PLAC8L1 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ11536 | Human | 153770 | Details Get a Quote |
| PLAC8 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ22353 | Human | 51316 | Details Get a Quote |
| PLAC8 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ22354 | Human | 51316 | Details Get a Quote |
| PLAC8L1 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ39857 | Human | 153770 | Details Get a Quote |
| PLAC8L1 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ58731 | Human | 153770 | Details Get a Quote |
| PLAC8L1 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ67215 | Human | 153770 | Details Get a Quote |
| PLAC8 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ73220 | Human | 51316 | Details Get a Quote |
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