Chromosomal localization of human GRIM-19, a novel IFN-β and retinoic acid-activated regulator of cell death

Apoptosis is a tightly regulated mechanism that controls the proliferation of cells in metazoans, In mammals, multiple genes are required to regulate cell death, We have employed a gene expression knockout technique to isolate cell death-related genes, One such gene, gene associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality-19 (GRIM-19), is essential for tumor cell death induced by interferon-beta (IFN-beta) and retinoic acid (RA), Here, we describe the localization of GRIM-19 to human chromosome 19p13.2. This region is essential for prostate tumor suppression. Together with its death-inductive role in the IFN-retinoid-regulated pathways and the tumor-suppressive function of this locus, the data suggest that GRIM-19 may be a novel tumor suppressor.