XIAP Gene (X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis)

A critical regulator of apoptosis and immune signaling; mutations cause X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome type 2 (XLP-2).

Gene Information Card

Symbol XIAP
Full Name X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis
Gene Type protein-coding
Chromosomal Location Xq25
NCBI Gene ID 331 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/331
Ensembl ID ENSG00000101966
UniProt ID P98170
OMIM ID 300079
HGNC ID 5928
Aliases BIRC4; API3; IAP-3; ILP1; MIHA; XLP2

Description

The XIAP gene encodes the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein, a member of the IAP family. XIAP is a potent suppressor of apoptosis by directly inhibiting caspases 3, 7, and 9. It also participates in innate immune signaling, particularly in the NOD2 and NF-κB pathways. Mutations in XIAP cause X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome type 2 (XLP-2), characterized by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, splenomegaly, and inflammatory bowel disease. XIAP is also implicated in cancer, where overexpression can promote tumor cell survival.

Disease Associations

Disease category Pathophysiological mechanism Genomic evidence
X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome type 2 (XLP-2) Loss-of-function mutations impair apoptosis regulation and immune signaling, leading to hyperinflammation and immune dysregulation. OMIM 300635; ClinVar
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) XIAP deficiency disrupts NOD2 signaling, increasing susceptibility to early-onset IBD, particularly Crohn's disease. OMIM 300079; ClinVar
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) Mutations in XIAP cause recurrent HLH episodes due to defective apoptosis of activated lymphocytes. OMIM 300079; ClinVar
Cancers (various) XIAP overexpression inhibits apoptosis, promoting tumor cell survival and resistance to therapy. COSMIC; literature
X-linked immunodeficiency with magnesium defect (XMEN) Although primarily associated with MAGT1, XIAP mutations can present with overlapping immune defects. OMIM 300079; ClinVar

Expression Profile

Tissue Expression
Tissue nTPM level
Blood High High expression in immune cells (lymphocytes, monocytes)
Spleen High High expression in splenic tissue
Bone Marrow Medium Moderate expression in hematopoietic cells
Liver Medium Moderate expression in hepatocytes
Lung Low Low expression in lung tissue
Brain Low Low expression in neuronal tissue
Cell Line Expression
Cell Line nTPM Notes
HeLa High Cervical cancer cell line; high XIAP expression
K562 Medium Chronic myeloid leukemia cell line; moderate expression
MCF7 Medium Breast cancer cell line; moderate expression
HepG2 Low Liver cancer cell line; low expression
Jurkat High T-cell leukemia cell line; high expression
Data source:Human Protein Atlas(proteinatlas.org)

Mutations & Variants

Hotspot Mutations
Variant Type Frequency Functional Description
c.1480C>T (p.Arg494Ter) Nonsense Rare Loss of function; truncates protein, abolishing anti-apoptotic activity
c.973A>G (p.Thr325Ala) Missense Rare Loss of function; disrupts BIR2 domain, reducing caspase inhibition
c.1000C>T (p.Arg334Ter) Nonsense Rare Loss of function; premature stop codon, leading to protein truncation
c.1466G>A (p.Trp489Ter) Nonsense Rare Loss of function; truncates RING domain, affecting ubiquitin ligase activity
c.1180C>T (p.Arg394Trp) Missense Rare Loss of function; affects BIR3 domain, impairing caspase-9 inhibition
Mutation functional classification

Loss of Function (LOF)

Most XIAP mutations are loss-of-function, leading to reduced or absent protein function. This impairs apoptosis regulation and NOD2 signaling, causing immune dysregulation and inflammation.

Gain of Function (GOF)

Gain-of-function mutations are rare but may occur in cancer, leading to increased XIAP expression or stability, enhancing anti-apoptotic activity and promoting tumor survival.

Dominant Negative (DN)

Dominant-negative effects are not well-documented for XIAP; most mutations are recessive or haploinsufficient, but some missense mutations may interfere with protein-protein interactions.

Gene Ontology (GO)

• cysteine-type endopeptidase inhibitor activity • zinc ion binding
• ubiquitin-protein transferase activity • apoptotic process
• negative regulation of apoptotic process • innate immune response
• NF-kappaB signaling • NOD2 signaling pathway

Pathways

Apoptosis regulation
NOD-like receptor signaling
NF-kappaB signaling
Innate immune response
Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway

Protein Summary

XIAP is a 497-amino acid protein with three BIR domains (BIR1, BIR2, BIR3) and a RING finger domain. BIR2 and BIR3 inhibit caspases 3/7 and 9, respectively. The RING domain has E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, targeting caspases and itself for degradation. XIAP also interacts with TAB1 to modulate NF-κB signaling. It is widely expressed in adult tissues, with high levels in immune cells. Mutations causing loss of function lead to XLP-2 and IBD, while overexpression in cancer contributes to chemoresistance.

Related Products

Product name Cat.No. Species Gene ID
XIAP Knockout HEK293 Cell Line EDJ-KQ17915 Human 331 Details Get a Quote
XIAP Knockout A-549 Cell Line EDJ-KQ19058 Human 331 Details Get a Quote
XIAP Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line EDJ-KQ19059 Human 331 Details Get a Quote
XIAP Knockout HeLa Cell Line EDJ-KQ19060 Human 331 Details Get a Quote
Displaying Records 1 To 4 Of 4 Records
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