Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
SETDB1 induces epithelial‑mesenchymal transition in breast carcinoma by directly binding with Snail promoter
Wenlin Yang1, Ying Su2, Chenjian Hou2
1Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272029, P.R. China.
Abstract:
SET domain bifurcated 1 (SETDB1) is a histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferase that is highly expressed in various tumor types, including breast cancer. However, how SETDB1 functions in breast cancer is unclear. In the present study, proliferation, migration and invasion assays were performed to explore the role of SETDB1 in breast cancer cells. SETDB1 downregulation in BT549 and MDA‑MB‑231 cells reduced cell proliferation, whereas upregulation in MCF7 and T47D cells enhanced proliferation. Depletion of SETDB1 suppressed cell migration and invasion in vitro and reduced lung metastasis in vivo. By contrast, SETDB1 overexpression enhanced cell migration and invasiveness. Notably, SETDB1 overexpression appeared to induce epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) in MCF7 cells. Mechanistic investigations indicated that SETDB1 acts as an EMT inducer by binding directly to the promoter of the transcription factor Snail. Thus, SETDB1 is involved in breast cancer metastasis and may be a therapeutic target for treating patients with breast cancer.
Related Concept Videos
Cooperative Allosteric Transitions
Phase Transitions
The Eukaryotic Promoter Region
Properties of Transition Metals
Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation
Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition

