Regulation of cancer-related gene expression by galectin-3 and the molecular mechanism of its nuclear import pathway.
Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a member of the beta-galactoside-binding gene family, distributes inside and outside the cell and has pleiotropic biological functions such as cell growth, cell adhesion, cell-cell interaction, and mRNA processing in a specific situation. In particular, Gal-3 in the nucleus plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cancer-related gene expression, including cyclin D1, TTF-1 and MUC2, presumably associated with tumor progression. Therefore, to understand the mechanism of nuclear import of Gal-3 is very significant and might be developed to the new approach for the cancer treatment. In this review, we focus on the role of Gal-3 in the nucleus and the molecular mechanism of nuclear import pathways of Gal-3, providing the hints for the inhibition of Gal-3 function.
Nakahara
Susumu
S
Tumor Progression and Metastasis Program, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
Raz
Avraham
A
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D055262:Mucin-2; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D021381:Protein Transport; D014157:Transcription Factors
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D037502:Galectin 3; C524625:MUC2 protein, human; D055262:Mucin-2; D009077:Mucins; C504003:TTF1 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019938:Cyclin D1