Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
05:39

Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Published on: February 3, 2023

Transforming acidic coiled-coil 3 and Aurora-A interact in human thyrocytes and their expression is deregulated in

Salvatore Ulisse1, Enke Baldini, Matteo Toller

  • 1Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.

Endocrine-Related Cancer
|October 5, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Transforming acidic coiled-coil 3 (TACC3) expression is altered in thyroid cancer. Aurora-A kinase interacts with TACC3, influencing mitotic spindle organization crucial for cell division.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Aurora-A kinase is deregulated in thyroid cancer.
  • Transforming acidic coiled-coil 3 (TACC3), an Aurora-A substrate, is vital for cell cycle progression and its expression changes in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate TACC3 gene expression in normal and cancerous thyroid cells and tissues.
  • To explore the relationship between TACC3, Aurora-A kinase, and mitotic spindle organization in thyroid cells.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative analysis of TACC3 mRNA and protein levels in thyroid cell lines and patient tissues.
  • In vivo co-immunoprecipitation to assess TACC3 and Aurora-A interaction.
  • Immunofluorescence microscopy to determine protein localization.
  • Pharmacological inhibition of Aurora kinase activity.

Main Results:

  • TACC3 expression was significantly reduced in anaplastic, follicular, and papillary thyroid carcinoma cell lines compared to normal thyroid cells.
  • TACC3 mRNA levels were reduced in 56% and increased in 44% of differentiated thyroid cancer tissues.
  • A correlation between TACC3 and Aurora-A mRNA expression was observed in thyroid cancer tissues.
  • TACC3 and Aurora-A interact in vivo and localize to the mitotic spindle; TACC3 localization depends on Aurora kinase activity.

Conclusions:

  • TACC3 expression is dysregulated in thyroid cancer.
  • The interaction between Aurora-A kinase and TACC3 is crucial for proper mitotic spindle organization and chromosome segregation in thyroid cells.

More Related Videos

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice07:02

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice

Published on: August 23, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones01:20

Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones

Low blood levels of the thyroid hormones — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — signal the hypothalamus to release the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH then reaches the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) into the bloodstream.
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The iodine is then...
Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology01:27

Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology

Hyperthyroidism is a hypermetabolic state caused by elevated levels of thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). It results from dysregulation at the thyroid, pituitary, or immune system level and affects multiple organ systems.PathophysiologyThe most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies, specifically thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAb), a subtype of TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb), bind to and activate TSH receptors...
Functions of Thyroid Hormones01:18

Functions of Thyroid Hormones

The thyroid hormone (TH) plays a pivotal role in the intricate orchestration of physiological processes, exerting profound effects on development, metabolism, and homeostasis throughout different life stages.
TH is indispensable for the normal development and maturation of the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems during fetal and childhood growth. It facilitates bone mineral turnover and regulates protein synthesis in developing tissues, contributing significantly to overall growth and...
The Thyroid Gland01:23

The Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck and covers the anterior surface of the trachea. The gland has two lateral lobes connected by a thin tissue mass called the isthmus. Internally, each lobe comprises many small spherical structures known as thyroid follicles, surrounded by a network of blood vessels.
The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...
Co-activators and Co-repressors02:04

Co-activators and Co-repressors

Gene transcription is regulated by the synergistic action of several proteins that form a complex at a gene regulatory site. This is observed in eukaryotes, where the regulation of gene expression is a complex process. Regulatory proteins in eukaryotes can broadly be classified into two types – regulators that bind directly to specific DNA sequences and co-regulators that associate with regulatory proteins but cannot directly bind to the DNA. These co-regulators are further divided into...
Co-activators and Co-repressors02:04

Co-activators and Co-repressors

Gene transcription is regulated by the synergistic action of several proteins that form a complex at a gene regulatory site. This is observed in eukaryotes, where the regulation of gene expression is a complex process. Regulatory proteins in eukaryotes can broadly be classified into two types – regulators that bind directly to specific DNA sequences and co-regulators that associate with regulatory proteins but cannot directly bind to the DNA. These co-regulators are further divided into...