Elevated level of human RPA interacting protein α (hRIPα) in cervical tumor cells is involved in cell proliferation through regulating RPA transport

Replication protein A (RPA) is a eukaryotic single-stranded DNA binding protein that is essential for DNA replication, repair, and recombination, and human RPA interacting protein alpha (hRIP alpha) is the nuclear transporter of RPA. Here, we report the regulatory role of hRIP alpha protein in cell proliferation. Western blot analysis revealed that the level of hRIP alpha was frequently elevated in cervical tumors tissues and hRIP alpha knockdown by siRNA inhibited cellular proliferation through deregulation of the cell cycle. In addition, overexpression of hRIP alpha resulted in increased clonogenicity. These results indicate that hRIP alpha is involved in cell proliferation through regulation of RPA transport. (C) 2012 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.