NDRG1 is a member of the emerging NDRG family involved in stress responses, hormone responses, cell growth, and differentiation. The NDRG1 gene is mapped to human chromosome 8q24.2 and encodes a cytosolic protein containing three unique tandem repeats of 10 hydrophilic aa near the C-terminus. Expression of NDRG1 is markedly upregulated in various cells under such conditions as cell differentiation, hypoxia and exposure to heavy metals. However, its expression is repressed by the Myc family transcription factors and after cellular transformation. Mutations in the NDRG1 gene are linked to the hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. The protein is ubiquitously expressed in human and rat heart, brain, kidney, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, and pancreas.