The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the INK4 family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. This protein has been shown to interact with CDK4 or CDK6, and prevent the activation of the CDK kinases, thus function as a cell growth regulator that controls cell cycle G1 progression. Ectopic expression of this gene was shown to suppress the growth of human cells in a manner that appears to correlate with the presence of a wild-type RB1 function. Studies in the knockout mice suggested the roles of this gene in regulating spermatogenesis, as well as in suppressing tumorigenesis. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene, which encode an identical protein, have been reported. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008],disease:Defects in CDKN2C are involved in tumor formation.,function:Interacts strongly with CDK6, weakly with CDK4. Inhibits cell growth and proliferation with a correlated dependence on endogenous retinoblastoma protein RB.,similarity:Belongs to the CDKN2 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor family.,similarity:Contains 4 ANK repeats.,subunit:Heterodimer of p18 with CDK6.,tissue specificity:Highest levels found in skeletal muscle. Also found in pancreas and heart.,
