title: Menin: a scaffold protein that controls gene expression and cell signaling.
abstract: The protein menin is encoded by the MEN1 gene, which is mutated in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome. Although menin acts as a tumor suppressor in endocrine organs, it is required for leukemic transformation in mouse models. Menin possesses these dichotomous functions probably because it can both positively and negatively regulate gene expression, as well as interact with a multitude of proteins with diverse functions. Here, we review the recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which menin functions. The crystal structures of menin with different binding partners reveal that menin is a key scaffold protein that functionally crosstalks with various partners to regulate gene transcription and interplay with multiple signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Abramson Cancer Center, the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Smita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matkar
authors.forename: Austin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: Xianxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hua
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D018761:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015530:Nuclear Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: C105373:MEN1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins
keywords: cell signaling; gene transcription; menin; scaffold protein