PDZ domains: the building blocks regulating tumorigenesis

2011 ◽  
Vol 439 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanitha Krishna Subbaiah ◽  
Christian Kranjec ◽  
Miranda Thomas ◽  
Lawrence Banks
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Cell Polarity ◽  
Pdz Domain ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Signal Transduction Pathways ◽  
Pdz Domains ◽  
Binding Motifs ◽  
Cytoskeletal Organization ◽  
Specific Process

Over 250 PDZ (PSD95/Dlg/ZO-1) domain-containing proteins have been described in the human proteome. As many of these possess multiple PDZ domains, the potential combinations of associations with proteins that possess PBMs (PDZ-binding motifs) are vast. However, PDZ domain recognition is a highly specific process, and much less promiscuous than originally thought. Furthermore, a large number of PDZ domain-containing proteins have been linked directly to the control of processes whose loss, or inappropriate activation, contribute to the development of human malignancies. These regulate processes as diverse as cytoskeletal organization, cell polarity, cell proliferation and many signal transduction pathways. In the present review, we discuss how PBM–PDZ recognition and imbalances therein can perturb cellular homoeostasis and ultimately contribute to malignant progression.

scholarly journals Iodide- and Glucose-Handling Gene Expression Regulated by Sorafenib or Cabozantinib in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

2015 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1771-1779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maomei Ruan ◽  
Min Liu ◽  
Qianggang Dong ◽  
Libo Chen
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Western Blot ◽  
Glucose Transporter ◽  
Signal Transduction Pathways ◽  
Papillary Thyroid ◽  
Cycle Arrest

Abstract Context: The aberrant silencing of iodide-handling genes accompanied by up-regulation of glucose metabolism presents a major challenge for radioiodine treatment of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on iodide-handling and glucose-handling gene expression in BHP 2-7 cells harboring RET/PTC1 rearrangement. Main Outcome Measures: In this in vitro study, the effects of sorafenib or cabozantinib on cell growth, cycles, and apoptosis were investigated by cell proliferation assay, cell cycle analysis, and Annexin V-FITC apoptosis assay, respectively. The effect of both agents on signal transduction pathways was evaluated using the Western blot. Quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and radioisotope uptake assays were used to assess iodide-handling and glucose-handling gene expression. Results: Both compounds inhibited cell proliferation in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner and caused cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. Sorafenib blocked RET, AKT, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, whereas cabozantinib blocked RET and AKT phosphorylation. The restoration of iodide-handling gene expression and inhibition of glucose transporter 1 and 3 expression could be induced by either drug. The robust expression of sodium/iodide symporter induced by either agent was confirmed, and 125I uptake was correspondingly enhanced. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation was significantly decreased after treatment by either sorafenib or cabozantinib. Conclusions: Sorafenib and cabozantinib had marked effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and signal transduction pathways in PTC cells harboring RET/PTC1 rearrangement. Both agents could be potentially used to enhance the expression of iodide-handling genes and inhibit the expression of glucose transporter genes.

scholarly journals Cancer Metabolism: Phenotype, Signaling and Therapeutic Targets

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 2308
Author(s):  
Jae Hyung Park ◽  
Woo Yang Pyun ◽  
Hyun Woo Park
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Cancer Metabolism ◽  
Aerobic Glycolysis ◽  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Signal Transduction Pathways ◽  
Intermittent Fasting ◽  
Redox Potentials ◽  
Metabolic Phenotypes

Aberrant metabolism is a major hallmark of cancer. Abnormal cancer metabolism, such as aerobic glycolysis and increased anabolic pathways, has important roles in tumorigenesis, metastasis, drug resistance, and cancer stem cells. Well-known oncogenic signaling pathways, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, Myc, and Hippo pathway, mediate metabolic gene expression and increase metabolic enzyme activities. Vice versa, deregulated metabolic pathways contribute to defects in cellular signal transduction pathways, which in turn provide energy, building blocks, and redox potentials for unrestrained cancer cell proliferation. Studies and clinical trials are being performed that focus on the inhibition of metabolic enzymes by small molecules or dietary interventions (e.g., fasting, calorie restriction, and intermittent fasting). Similar to genetic heterogeneity, the metabolic phenotypes of cancers are highly heterogeneous. This heterogeneity results from diverse cues in the tumor microenvironment and genetic mutations. Hence, overcoming metabolic plasticity is an important goal of modern cancer therapeutics. This review highlights recent findings on the metabolic phenotypes of cancer and elucidates the interactions between signal transduction pathways and metabolic pathways. We also provide novel rationales for designing the next-generation cancer metabolism drugs.

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