Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics
08:11

Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics

Published on: March 26, 2018

8.0K

DDX3 modulates cell adhesion and motility and cancer cell metastasis via Rac1-mediated signaling pathway

H-H Chen1, H-I Yu1, W-C Cho1

  • 1Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.

Oncogene
|July 22, 2014
PubMed

Insights

The DEAD-box RNA helicase DDX3 protein regulates cell adhesion and migration. DDX3 depletion reduces tumor invasion and metastasis by affecting Rac1 and β-catenin signaling, offering insights into Wnt-type medulloblastoma.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • The DEAD-box RNA helicase DDX3 is crucial for gene expression and cellular signaling.
  • Mutations in DDX3 are linked to wingless (Wnt)-type medulloblastoma.
  • Understanding DDX3's role in cell adhesion, migration, and Wnt signaling is vital for cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of DDX3 in cell adhesion, motility, and invasion.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which DDX3 regulates cell migration and Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
  • To provide a mechanistic understanding of DDX3's role in Wnt-type medulloblastoma.

Main Methods:

  • Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated DDX3 knockdown in various cell lines.
  • Cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion assays.
  • Wound-healing and invasion assays (in vitro and in vivo).
  • Western blotting to assess protein levels (Rac1, β-catenin).
  • Analysis of β-catenin target gene expression and Rac1 mRNA translation.

Main Results:

  • DDX3 knockdown increased cell-cell adhesion but decreased cell-extracellular matrix adhesion.
  • DDX3 depletion suppressed cell motility, directional migration, and invasive capacities.
  • DDX3 knockdown reduced Rac1 and β-catenin protein levels, downregulating β-catenin target genes.
  • DDX3 regulates Rac1 mRNA translation and affects β-catenin protein stability in a Rac1-dependent manner.

Conclusions:

  • DDX3 plays a significant role in regulating cell adhesion, migration, and invasion.
  • The DDX3-Rac1-β-catenin axis is a key regulatory pathway for Wnt/β-catenin target gene expression.
  • This study provides a mechanistic framework for DDX3's involvement in Wnt-type medulloblastoma, highlighting potential therapeutic targets.

More Related Videos

RhoC GTPase Activation Assay09:58

RhoC GTPase Activation Assay

Published on: August 22, 2010

12.2K
Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion09:23

Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion

Published on: April 2, 2020

5.8K

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia01:35

Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia

Invadosome is a broad category of cell surface structures with proteolytic activity that  degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadosomes are present in normal cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and neurons, as well as tumor cells. Although the macrophage podosomes and tumor cell invadopodia are classified as invadosomes, they have different structures, molecular pathways, and functions. Podosomes are short structures that last for a few minutes. However,...
2.4K
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho01:24

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho

Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
4.4K
Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins01:21

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...
3.1K
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
2.7K
The Ras Gene02:38

The Ras Gene

The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a...
5.7K
Cell Migration01:09

Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
16.6K