Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Assessing Cellular Target Engagement by SHP2 (PTPN11) Phosphatase Inhibitors
08:45

Assessing Cellular Target Engagement by SHP2 (PTPN11) Phosphatase Inhibitors

Published on: July 17, 2020

Regulation of PTEN function as a PIP3 gatekeeper through membrane interaction

Francisca Vazquez1, Peter Devreotes

  • 1Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. fvazquez@jhmi.edu

Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|July 25, 2006
PubMed

Insights

The tumor suppressor PTEN regulates cell growth by interacting with the plasma membrane. Understanding PTEN

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • PTEN is a crucial tumor suppressor gene frequently altered in human cancers.
  • PTEN counteracts PI3K signaling by dephosphorylating phosphoinositide-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3).
  • Dysregulation of PIP3 levels contributes to tumorigenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the current understanding of PTEN's interaction with the plasma membrane.
  • To explore the implications of PTEN-membrane interactions in cancer biology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on PTEN function and localization.
  • Analysis of protein-lipid and protein-protein interactions at the plasma membrane.
  • Discussion of regulatory mechanisms, including C-terminal tail phosphorylation.

Main Results:

  • PTEN dynamically binds to the plasma membrane via complex interactions.
  • PTEN's membrane association is essential for its tumor-suppressive activity.
  • Regulation of PTEN translocation involves post-translational modifications like phosphorylation.

Conclusions:

  • PTEN's dynamic interaction with the plasma membrane is critical for its tumor suppressor function.
  • Understanding these interactions provides insights into PTEN's role in cancer.
  • Targeting PTEN-membrane dynamics may offer novel therapeutic strategies.

More Related Videos

PIP-on-a-chip: A Label-free Study of Protein-phosphoinositide Interactions10:58

PIP-on-a-chip: A Label-free Study of Protein-phosphoinositide Interactions

Published on: July 27, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Phosphoinositides and PIPs01:42

Phosphoinositides and PIPs

Phosphoinositides are a group of phospholipids containing a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate attached to a myoinositol sugar ring. The inositol head group extends into the cytoplasm, where it is modified by adding phosphate groups to form phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs.
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway01:20

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as  SH2...
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway01:11

IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway

Membrane lipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) are precursors for several membrane-bound and soluble second messengers. Specific kinases phosphorylate PI and produce phosphorylated inositol phospholipids. One such inositol phospholipids are the  phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], present in the inner half of the lipid bilayer. Upon ligand binding, GPCR stimulates Gq proteins to turn on phospholipase Cꞵ. Activated phospholipase Cꞵ cleaves PI(4,5)P2 and produces two-second...
Negative Regulator Molecules01:23

Negative Regulator Molecules

Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...