title: Reflections on MUC1 glycoprotein: the hidden potential of isoforms in carcinogenesis.
abstract: Mucin 1 (MUC1) has been described as the renaissance molecule due to the large set of functions it displays in both normal and neoplastic cells. This membrane-tethered glycoprotein is overexpressed and aberrantly glycosylated in most epithelial cancers, being involved in several processes related with malignant phenotype acquisition. With a highly polymorphic structure, both in the polypeptide and glycan counterparts, MUC1 variability has been associated with susceptibility to several diseases, including cancer. Biochemical features and biological functions have been characterized upon the full-length MUC1 protein, remaining to clarify the real impact on cell dynamics of the plethora of MUC1 isoforms. This review aims to encompass a detailed characterization of MUC1 role in carcinogenesis, highlighting recent findings in cell differentiation and uncovering new evidences of MUC1 isoforms involvement in malignant phenotype.
authors.affiliation: i3S-Institute of Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. andreiasousa29@gmail.com.|IPATIMUP-Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. andreiasousa29@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andreia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Disease, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Grandgenett
authors.affiliation: i3S-Institute of Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.|IPATIMUP-Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.|Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: i3S-Institute of Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.|IPATIMUP-Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.|Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.|Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Disease, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Michael Anthony
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hollingsworth
authors.affiliation: i3S-Institute of Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.|IPATIMUP-Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.|Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santos-Silva
mesh_terms: D063646:Carcinogenesis; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D020033:Protein Isoforms
keywords: MUC1; MUC1 splice variants; cancer; cell differentiation