title: Gamma-synuclein binds to AKT and promotes cancer cell survival and proliferation.
abstract: Hyperactivation of AKT plays a critical role in the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying AKT activation remain elusive. Here, we tested the effect of γ-synuclein, a member of the synuclein family of proteins, on the activation of AKT. We show that the expression level of γ-synuclein is increased in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues. γ-Synuclein binds to the protein kinase domain of AKT and promotes its phosphorylation. Overexpression of γ-synuclein in H157 cells enhances cell proliferation and protects the cells from staurosporine-induced cytotoxicity. Knockdown of γ-synuclein attenuates AKT activation and cell proliferation induced by epidermal growth factor. The effect of γ-synuclein is abolished when AKT is depleted. Thus, γ-synuclein promotes cell survival and proliferation via activating AKT and may play a causal role in the pathogenesis of NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China.|Department of Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Chest Hospital, Jinan, 250013, China.
authors.forename: Zengxia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yidu Central Hospital, Weifang Medical University, Qingzhou, 262500, China.
authors.forename: Jianyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China.
authors.forename: Erlian
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Chest Hospital, Jinan, 250013, China.
authors.forename: Xuedong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Chest Hospital, Jinan, 250013, China.
authors.forename: Xianxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China. yuanrongju1960@163.com.
authors.forename: Yuanrong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ju
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051845:gamma-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051845:gamma-Synuclein; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
keywords: AKT; H157 cells; Non-small cell lung cancer; γ-Synuclein