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Updated: Jul 31, 2025

Engineering Artificial Factors to Specifically Manipulate Alternative Splicing in Human Cells
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Engineering Artificial Factors to Specifically Manipulate Alternative Splicing in Human Cells

Published on: April 26, 2017

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TRA2: The dominant power of alternative splicing in tumors

Jiancheng Xue1,2, Tie Ma3, Xiaowen Zhang1,2

  • 1Medical Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

Heliyon
|May 8, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Alternative splicing (AS) dysregulation in cancer involves Transformer 2 (TRA2) proteins. TRA2A and TRA2B impact tumor progression and therapy by altering AS, with TRA2A emerging as a potential cancer biomarker and therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Alternative splicing (AS) is frequently dysregulated in cancer, serving as a marker for disease progression and therapeutic response.
  • Transformer 2 (TRA2) proteins, including TRA2A and TRA2B, are nuclear RNA-binding proteins crucial for regulating pre-mRNA splicing.
  • Evidence indicates TRA2A and TRA2B are dysregulated in various tumors, influencing cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemotherapy resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of TRA2 proteins in tumorigenesis and metastasis.
  • To discuss the molecular mechanisms by which TRA2 influences cancer development and spread through AS control.
  • To identify TRA2A as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on the role of TRA2 proteins in cancer.
  • Analysis of existing evidence on TRA2-mediated alternative splicing in cancer-related genes.
  • Discussion of molecular pathways linking TRA2, AS, and cancer progression.

Main Results:

  • TRA2 proteins (TRA2A and TRA2B) are implicated in the regulation of key cancer hallmarks, including proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • Dysregulation of TRA2A and TRA2B contributes to chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells via altered AS.
  • TRA2 proteins influence tumorigenesis and metastasis by controlling the alternative splicing of oncogenic and tumor-suppressor genes.

Conclusions:

  • TRA2 proteins play a significant role in cancer progression and metastasis through the modulation of alternative splicing.
  • TRA2A is highlighted as a promising novel biomarker for cancer progression.
  • TRA2A represents a potential therapeutic target for improving cancer therapy outcomes.
Keywords:
Alternative splicingTransformer 2Transformer 2 alpha homologTransformer 2 beta homologTumorigenesis

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