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Updated: Oct 27, 2025

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Induces CAP2 Expression Promoting Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Liver Cancer
Sarah Yoon1,2, Boram Shin1,2, Hyun Goo Woo1,2
1Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.
Abstract:
Cyclase-associated protein 2 (CAP2) has been addressed as a candidate biomarker in various cancer types. Previously, we have shown that CAP2 is expressed during multi-step hepatocarcinogenesis; however, its underlying mechanisms in liver cancer cells are not fully elucidated yet. Here, we demonstrated that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced CAP2 expression, and which promoted migration and invasion of liver cancer cells. We also found that the ER stress-induced CAP2 expression is mediated through activation of protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) and the promotor binding of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2). In addition, we further demonstrated that CAP2 expression promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through activation of Rac1 and ERK. In conclusion, we suggest that ER stress induces CAP2 expression promoting EMT in liver cancers cells. Our results shed light on the novel functions of CAP2 in the metastatic process of liver cancer cells.
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