Discovery and Overview of Par-4 -- Par-4 in cell cycle regulation -- Conformational studies of the Par-4 C-terminal Domain -- Structural analysis of Par-4 and crystallographic analysis of the regulatory domain -- Regulation of Par-4 by Ubiquitinases -- REGULATION OF PAR-4 FUNCTION BY PHOSPHORYLATION -- Role of Par-4 in GRP78 translocation -- PAR-4 in the regulation of stem cell death and embryo development -- RASSF2 and the PAR-4 connection -- Regulation of tumor suppressor Par-4 by ceramide -- PAWR as a direct SRC-1/HOXC11 suppression target -- Index.

Par-4 is a tumor suppressor protein first discovered and identified in 1993 by Dr. Vivek Rangnekar's laboratory in prostate cancer cells undergoing apoptosis. Par-4 (later also known as PAWR) is a naturally occurring tumor suppressor. Studies have indicated that Par-4 selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells while leaving normal, healthy, cells unaffected. Mechanisms contributing to the cancer-selective action of Par-4 have been associated with protein kinase A activation of intracellular Par-4 in cancer cells or GRP78 expression primarily on the surface of cancer cells. Par-4 is downregulated, inactivated or mutated in diverse cancers. This first of two volumes will be the first on the market on the topic of Par-4, and will provide the opportunity for researchers to discuss the future direction of studies, broaden the scope of research, and contribute a more complete understanding of the molecule's structural features, key functional domains, regulation and relevant basic and clinical/translational facets.