P23, also known as PTGES3 (prostaglandin E synthase 3) or TEBP (telomerase-binding protein p23), is a ubiquitously expressed protein that functions as a cochaperone and plays an important role in signal transduction. One of several proteins in the HSP 90-based molecular chaperone complex, P23 promotes the breakdown of transcriptional regulatory complexes by disrupting receptor-mediated transcriptional activation. P23 acts in a hormone-dependent manner to chaperone estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), a steroid complex, to its mature form and to regulate the expression of ERα-related genes. Localized to the cytoplasm, P23 interacts with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and, through disassembly of the GR transcription machinery, is thought to inhibit GR-dependent transcription. The involvement of P23 in various steroid receptor-mediated pathways suggests close involvement in signal transduction and regulation of cellular processes. Upregulation of P23 is implicated in the invasion and metastasis of various cancers.
