MKK4 and metastasis suppression: a marriage of signal transduction and metastasis research.
MAP kinase kinase 4 (MKK4) is a member of the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) signaling cascade and is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes. We have recently demonstrated a functional role for MKK4 in the suppression of metastases. In this review, we discuss the established cellular and biochemical functions of MKK4, as well as a new function for MKK4 as a metastasis suppressor gene. Because of the importance of signaling studies to this translational work, a detailed example of the strategy and tools that can be employed to define the biochemical mechanism of MKK4-mediated metastasis suppression is presented. Finally, the potential therapeutic utility of these findings is discussed.
Robinson
Victoria L
VL
Section of Urology, Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago (The Committee on Cancer Biology), University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Hickson
Jonathan A
JA
Vander Griend
Donald J
DJ
Dubauskas
Zita
Z
Rinker-Schaeffer
Carrie W
CW
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D051379:Mice; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D015398:Signal Transduction
D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; C482559:MAP2K4 protein, human; C482562:Map2k4 protein, mouse; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases