Ras association domain-containing protein 8, Carcinoma-associated protein HOJ-1, RASSF8, C12orf2
RASSF8 (Ras association (RalGDS/AF-6 or RA) domain (N-terminal) family member 8), also known as HoJ-1 (carcinoma-associated protein HoJ-1), is an evolutionarily conserved member of the N-terminal RASSF family which is also comprised of RASSF7, PAMCI (or RASSF9) and RASSF10. RASSF8 contains an N-terminal RA domain and is believed to participate in the Ras signaling pathway. A reciprocal chromosomal translocation involving the genes encoding RASSF8 and Fibulin-1 is associated with a complex form of synpolydactyly, a condition in which there are typically more than five digits on a hand or foot and patients exhibit webbing or fusion of fingers and toes. In addition, RASSF8 is capable of acting as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer, as is suggested by the ectopic expression of RASSF8 inhibiting anchorageindependent growth. This implies that the loss of functional RASSF8 may be implicated in the development of lung cancer.
