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Protein Phosphorylation in Cancer: Role of Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

Xinran Liu1,2, Yiping Zhang1,2, Yijie Wang1,2

  • 1Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.

Biomolecules
|August 6, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Nitric oxide (NO) influences cancer by altering protein phosphorylation in key signaling pathways. This review explores NO

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Nitric oxide (NO) is a crucial free radical involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes.
  • Its diverse functions have led to extensive research in various cancers, highlighting its strong association with cancer development.
  • NO's regulation of cancer-related events primarily occurs through the phosphorylation of key proteins in signaling pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the complex role of protein phosphorylation modulated by the nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway in diverse cancer types.
  • To elucidate how NO-mediated phosphorylation impacts cancer development and progression across different malignancies.
  • To provide insights into potential therapeutic targets and strategies for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on studies investigating nitric oxide (NO) signaling.
  • Analysis of research on protein phosphorylation in various cancers (breast, lung, prostate, colon, gastric, pancreatic, ovarian, neuroblastoma).
  • Examination of the effects of NO-modulated phosphorylation on key proteins (p38 MAPK, ERK, PI3K, STAT3, p53) and cancer processes.

Main Results:

  • Nitric oxide (NO) signaling modulates the phosphorylation of key proteins such as p38 MAPK, ERK, PI3K, STAT3, and p53.
  • These phosphorylation events influence critical cancer-related processes including apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis.
  • The effects of NO-mediated protein phosphorylation can vary significantly across different cancer types, indicating complexity.

Conclusions:

  • The nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway is intricately linked to protein phosphorylation in cancer development.
  • Understanding these NO-modulated phosphorylation events offers new perspectives on cancer biology.
  • This review highlights potential therapeutic targets and strategies for novel cancer therapies.
Keywords:
cancernitric oxideprotein phosphorylationsignaling pathways

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