title: [Autophagy and BNIP3 protein in tumorogenesis].
abstract: Autophagy is a process necessary for maintaining cell homeostasis in physiological conditions, as well as during certain stresses like nutrients or oxygen deprivation. Autophagy also plays an essential role in tumorigenesis. It prevents cell transformation, but on the other hand, autophagy enables existing cancer cells to adapt to harmful conditions and increased glucose demand, supports maintaining of cellular metabolism and accelerates tumor growth. Among others, it refers to Ras-transformed cells. Recent research unveiled BNIP3 protein as one of the key players involved in autophagy. Although BNIP3 is classified as proapoptotic member of BH3-only subfamily, its proapoptotic activity is questionable. However, BNIP3 demonstrates ability to induce or stimulate autophagy and its specific variant--mitophagy. This paper aims to summarize the existing body of knowledge related to the role of BNIP3 in autophagy, as well as the importance of this process in tumorigenesis. In particular, we emphasize the relation between autophagy and BNIP3 expression induced by Ras oncogene.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorium Immunobiologii Molekularnej Nowotworów Instytut Immunologii i Terapii Doświadczalnej PAN im. Ludwika Hirszfelda we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland. swoboda@iitd.pan.wroc.pl
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Swiderek
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strządała
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C090121:BNIP3 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins