Bicaudal C Homolog 1 (BICC1)

BICC1 is active in regulating gene expression by modulating protein translation during embryonic development. Mouse studies identified the corresponding protein to be under strict control during cell differentiation and to be a maternally provided gene product.

Lack of Bicc1 leads to disruption of normal cell-cell junctions, which in turn impedes establishment of epithelial polarity. These cellular defects may initiate abnormal tubulomorphogenesis and cystogenesis of IMCD cells grown in vitro. The observation of aberrant cellular behaviors in Bicc1-silenced IMCD cells reveal functions for Bicc1 in renal epithelial cells and provides insight into a potential pathogenic mechanism of polycystic kidney disease.