The role of the RNA-binding protein Sam68 in mammary tumourigenesis.
The RNA binding protein Sam68 (Src-associated in mitosis 68 kD) is implicated in cell signalling, transcriptional regulation, pre-mRNA splicing, and is overexpressed and/or hyperphosphorylated in breast, prostate, and renal cancers. Sam68 has roles in normal breast development; however, a study by Song et al published in this issue of The Journal of Pathology reports overexpression of nuclear and cytoplasmic Sam68 protein in a large cohort of clinical breast tumours, implicating Sam68 as a potential prognostic indicator and target for therapy. In breast cancer cells, nuclear Sam68 protein might affect the expression of cancer-relevant genes and/or modulate exon splicing patterns in a dose-dependent manner. Sam68-regulated expression of alternative transcripts may help drive mammary tumourigenesis. The high levels of cytoplasmic Sam68 protein observed in breast cancer cells could also impact on cellular signalling pathways important for mammary tumour cell biology.
Elliott
David J
DJ
Institute of Human Genetics, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. david.elliott@ncl.ac.uk
Rajan
Prabhakar
P
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C489559:KHDRBS1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins