Transcription factor EB controls both motogenic and mitogenic cell activities

Transcription factor EB (TFEB) belongs to the microphthalmia family of bHLH-leucine zipper transcription factors and was first identified as an oncogene in a subset of renal cell carcinomas. In addition to exhibiting oncogenic activity, TFEB coordinates genetic programs connected with the cellular response to stress conditions, including roles in lysosome biogenesis, autophagy, and modulation of metabolism. As is the case for other transcription factors, the activities of TFEB are not limited to a specific cellular condition such as the response to stress, and recent findings indicate that TFEB has more widespread functions. Here, we review the emerging roles of TFEB in regulating cellular proliferation and motility. The well-established and emerging roles of TFEB suggest that this protein serves as a hub of signaling networks involved in many non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, ischaemic diseases and immune disorders, drug resistance mechanisms, and tissue generation.