The
nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase (NAPRT) gene has gained relevance in the research of
cancer therapeutic strategies due to its main role as a
NAD biosynthetic
enzyme.
NAD metabolism is an attractive target for the development of anti-
cancer therapies, given the high energy requirements of proliferating
cancer cells and
NAD-dependent signaling. A few studies have shown that NAPRT expression varies in different
cancer types, making it imperative to assess NAPRT expression and functionality status prior to the application of therapeutic strategies targeting
NAD. In addition, the recent finding of NAPRT extracellular form (eNAPRT) suggested the involvement of NAPRT in
inflammation and signaling. However, the mechanisms regulating NAPRT gene expression have never been thoroughly addressed. In this study, we searched for NAPRT gene expression regulatory mechanisms in
transcription factors (TFs),
RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and
microRNA (
miRNAs) databases. We identified several potential regulators of NAPRT transcription activation, downregulation and alternative splicing and performed GO and expression analyses. The results of the functional analysis of TFs, RBPs and
miRNAs suggest new, unexpected functions for the NAPRT gene in cell differentiation, development and neuronal biology.