title: Phosphorylation and Reorganization of Keratin Networks: Implications for Carcinogenesis and Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition.
abstract: Metastasis is one of hallmarks of cancer and a major cause of cancer death. Combatting metastasis is highly challenging. To overcome these difficulties, researchers have focused on physical properties of metastatic cancer cells. Metastatic cancer cells from patients are softer than benign cancer or normal cells. Changes of viscoelasticity of cancer cells are related to the keratin network. Unexpectedly, keratin network is dynamic and regulation of keratin network is important to the metastasis of cancer. Keratin is composed of heteropolymer of type I and II. Keratin connects from the plasma membrane to nucleus. Several proteins including kinases, and protein phosphatases bind to keratin intermediate filaments. Several endogenous compounds or toxic compounds induce phosphorylation and reorganization of keratin network in cancer cells, leading to increased migration. Continuous phosphorylation of keratin results in loss of keratin, which is one of the features of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Therefore, several proteins involved in phosphorylation and reorganization of keratin also have a role in EMT. It is likely that compounds controlling phosphorylation and reorganization of keratin are potential candidates for combating EMT and metastasis.
authors.affiliation: BK21PLUS R-FIND team, College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 100-715, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Ji
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: BK21PLUS R-FIND team, College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 100-715, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: BK21PLUS R-FIND team, College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 100-715, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition; Metastasis; Phosphorylation of keratin; Reorganization of keratin; Sphingosylphosphorylcholine; Viscoelasticity