APC Proteins

The initial identification of the Adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) gene as the site of mutations in familial adenomatous polyposis (FA P) was described in 1992. A causal relationship between Apc mutations and intestinal tract tumours was confirmed three years later with the establishment of the Min mouse model. These mice are heterozygous for Apc and develop numerous intestinal tumours that mimic FA P. Subsequently, Apc has emerged as the most commonly mutated gene in colorectal cancer with reports varying between 50-80% of sporadic tumours carrying such mutations. The search for how mutations in Apc initiate and/or support progression of tumours in the intestinal tract has revealed that the Apc protein is a multifunctional participant in a diverse array of cellular functions. By collecting and assembling the chapters in this book, we aimed to provide an overview of the diverse functions performed by the Apc protein. As summarised in a short final chapter by Trainer, heterozygosity of Apc leads to a number of extracolonic manifestations that further support this emerging picture of the Apc protein as an active contributor to many different cellular functions.