This gene is a member of the N-myc downregulated gene family which belongs to the alpha/beta hydrolase superfamily. The protein encoded by this gene is a cytoplasmic protein involved in stress responses, hormone responses, cell growth, and differentiation [citation needed]. Mutations in this gene have been reported to be causative the autosomal-recessive version of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease known as CMT4D.[8]
It has been reported that NDRG1 localizes to the endosomes and is a Rab4a effector involved in vesicular recycling.[9]
As reviewed by Fang et al.,[10] NDRG1 is involved in embryogenesis and development, cell growth and differentiation, lipid biosynthesis and myelination, stress responses, immunity, DNA repair and cell adhesion among other functions. NDRG1 is localised in the cytoplasm, nucleus and mitochondrion, at probabilities of 47.8%, 26.1% and 8.7%, respectively. In response to DNA damage NDRG1 translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, where it may inhibit cell growth and promote DNA repair mechanisms. It is suggested that NDRG1 acts as a stress response gene or potentially as a transcription factor.
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^van Belzen N, Dinjens WN, Diesveld MP, Groen NA, van der Made AC, Nozawa Y, et al. (July 1997). "A novel gene which is up-regulated during colon epithelial cell differentiation and down-regulated in colorectal neoplasms". Laboratory Investigation; A Journal of Technical Methods and Pathology. 77 (1): 85–92. PMID9251681.
^Zhang J, Chen S, Zhang W, Zhang J, Liu X, Shi H, et al. (July 2008). "Human differentiation-related gene NDRG1 is a Myc downstream-regulated gene that is repressed by Myc on the core promoter region". Gene. 417 (1–2): 5–12. doi:10.1016/j.gene.2008.03.002. PMID18455888.
^Fang BA, Kovačević Ž, Park KC, Kalinowski DS, Jansson PJ, Lane DJ, et al. (January 2014). "Molecular functions of the iron-regulated metastasis suppressor, NDRG1, and its potential as a molecular target for cancer therapy". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Reviews on Cancer. 1845 (1): 1–19. doi:10.1016/j.bbcan.2013.11.002. PMID24269900.