Human protein DnaJ subfamily A member 1 (DNAJA1) has
been shown to associate on its own with unfolded polypeptide
chains and prevent their aggregation,15 to regulate androgen
receptor signaling and spermatogenosis in mice,16 and to
contribute to the resistance of glioblastomas to radiotherapy.17
DNAJA1 has also been targeted as a biomarker for pancreatic
cancer to evaluate the effects of farnesyl protein transferase
inhibitors18,19 and has been shown to be downregulated 5-fold
in a genomics analysis of pancreatic cancer cells relative to
normal healthy cells and cells undergoing pancreatitis.20
Additionally, DNAJA1 appears to be involved in importing
proteins into the mitochondria.21,22 Of note, the mitochondrial
pathway to apoptosis protects against cancer and requires
importing apoptotic factors into the mitochondrial membrane.
23−26 Additionally, DNAJA1 is an interesting target based
on its association with DnaK, which is expressed abundantly in
various tumors and can potentially promote tumorigenesis by
inhibiting cell death.27−32 However, there have been no studies
of whether the conserved J-domain of DnaJ alone has any role
in cancer biology independent of DnaK.