Abstract
Maspin (mammary serpin) is a 42 kDa protein which belongs to superfamily of serpins (serine protease inhibitor) due to sequence homology, however, its mechanism of action does not depend on protease inhibition as indicated by the adopted nomenclature. This protein was identified in 1994 during a search for genes expressed in normal mammary epithelial cells but absent in breast tumors. Onl…