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Roles of Rap1 signaling in tumor cell migration and invasion

Yi-Lei Zhang1, Ruo-Chen Wang1, Ken Cheng2

  • 1Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.

Cancer Biology & Medicine
|April 27, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Ras-associated protein-1 (Rap1) signaling regulates cancer cell invasion and metastasis by controlling cell adhesion, migration, and matrix degradation. This review details Rap1

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Ras-associated protein-1 (Rap1) is a small GTPase crucial for fundamental cellular processes.
  • Rap1 signaling is implicated in cell adhesion, migration, polarization, invasion, and metastasis in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms through which Rap1 signaling influences cancer cell invasion and metastasis.
  • To highlight Rap1's roles in regulating key molecular players involved in cancer progression.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating Rap1 signaling pathways in cancer.
  • Analysis of Rap1's interactions with guanine nucleotide exchange factors and GTPase-activating proteins.

Main Results:

  • Rap1 acts as a molecular switch, regulated by GTP/GDP binding, controlling cellular signaling.
  • Rap1's diverse functions stem from interactions with numerous regulatory proteins.
  • Rap1 signaling impacts integrin and cadherin regulation, Rho GTPase activity, and matrix metalloproteinase expression.

Conclusions:

  • Rap1 signaling is a critical determinant of cancer cell invasion and metastasis.
  • Understanding Rap1's regulatory roles offers potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
Keywords:
Rap1RapGAPsRapGEFsTumormetastasis

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