Analysis of CIZ1 Variant Expression in Breast Cancer Cells

CIZ1 is a nuclear matrix (NM) protein, which helps to coordinate the recruitment of cyclins E and A during initiation of DNA replication in mammalian cells. CIZ1 contains two characterised functional domains: anchor domain (AD) supports attachment to the NM, whilst the replication domain (RD) supports direct interaction with cyclins. Recent publications implicate CIZ1 in coupling DNA replication with maintenance of repressive secondary modifications of histone proteins that specify epigenetic state. CIZ1 aberrant expression has been extensively linked with cancer, mostly at the level of alternative splicing. Here I explore CIZ1 variant expression across the different molecular subtypes of breast cancer, as well as its contribution to the development of some of the key features of the disease.