title: Arl4c is a key regulator of tubulogenesis and tumourigenesis as a target gene of Wnt-β-catenin and growth factor-Ras signalling.
abstract: Epithelial tubular morphogenesis (tubulogenesis) is a fundamental morphogenetic process of many epithelial organs. In this developmental process, epithelial cells migrate, proliferate, polarize and differentiate towards surrounding mesenchymal tissue to form tubule structures. Although epithelial tissue structures are basically stable in the postnatal period, epithelial cells regain highly proliferative and invasive potentials within mesenchymal tissue during tumour formation (tumourigenesis). Therefore, there must be a common molecular basis orchestrating the cellular behaviours involved in both tubulogenesis and tumourigenesis. ADP-ribosylation factor (Arf)-like protein 4c (Arl4c), which belongs to the small GTP-binding protein family, is expressed by the simultaneous activation of Wnt-β-catenin and growth factor-Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling, was identified as an essential regulator of tubulogenesis. Arl4c expression was also involved in the tumour formation of colorectal and lung cancers. In this review, we focus on Arl4c as a novel Wnt signal target molecule that links epithelial tubulogenesis to tumourigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan shinjim@molbiobc.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.|Laboratory of Oral Pathology, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan akikuchi@molbiobc.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
mesh_terms: D020727:ADP-Ribosylation Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015689:Oncogene Protein p21(ras) / Q000235:genetics; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; D020727:ADP-Ribosylation Factors; C541133:ARL4C protein, human; D015689:Oncogene Protein p21(ras)
keywords: Arl4c; Wnt; growth factor; tubulogenesis; tumourigenesis