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Peptide-based Identification of Functional Motifs and their Binding Partners
Published on: June 30, 2013
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Nephronectin mediates p38 MAPK-induced cell viability via its integrin-binding enhancer motif
Jimita Toraskar1,2, Synnøve N Magnussen3, Konika Chawla1,4
1Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondheim Norway.
FEBS Open Bio
|December 8, 2018
Summary
Nephronectin (NPNT) is an ECM protein. NPNT promotes breast cancer cell viability and metastasis through integrin binding and p38 MAPK phosphorylation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Nephronectin (NPNT) is an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein crucial for kidney development.
- Intracellular NPNT has emerged as a potential prognostic marker in breast cancer.
- Previous research indicated NPNT promotes metastasis via integrin-dependent pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate NPNT-triggered intracellular signaling pathways in breast cancer cells.
- To elucidate the role of NPNT's integrin-binding motif in cellular signaling and function.
- To explore the impact of NPNT on breast cancer cell viability.
Main Methods:
- Utilized reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) to analyze intracellular signaling.
- Employed the 66cl4 mouse breast cancer cell line for experimental analysis.
- Applied prediction tools to assess NPNT's role in cell viability.
Main Results:
- NPNT interaction with its receptors activates intracellular signaling cascades.
- The integrin-binding enhancer motif of NPNT is critical for its cellular effects.
- Phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was observed upon NPNT interaction.
- Prediction analyses suggested NPNT promotes cancer cell viability.
Conclusions:
- NPNT promotes breast cancer cell viability.
- The integrin-binding motifs within NPNT are essential for this pro-viability effect.
- NPNT facilitates cell viability through the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.
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