Background:
RASSF7 (Ras association domain-containing protein 7), also designated HRAS1-related cluster protein 1, is a 373 amino acid protein that localizes to the centrosome. RASSF7, RASSF8, RASSF9 and RASSF10 are four evolutionary conserved proteins that are collectively known as the N-terminal RASSF family. Expressed in skin, neural tube and eye, RASSF7 is believed to play an essential role in mitosis. Further supporting its mitotic role, knockdown of Xenopus RASSF7 has been shown to influence cell failure to form mitotic spindle and also cause nuclear breakdown and apoptosis.