Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2025

A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
08:59

A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: January 5, 2017

10.7K

Role of MARK2 in the nervous system and cancer

Yining Lei1,2, Ruyi Zhang3, Fei Cai4,5

  • 1School of Pharmacy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China.

Cancer Gene Therapy
|February 1, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Microtubule-Affinity Regulating Kinase 2 (MARK2) is vital in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases by regulating key pathways. Developing MARK2 inhibitors offers therapeutic potential for these conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Microtubule-Affinity Regulating Kinase 2 (MARK2) is a serine/threonine kinase.
  • MARK2 regulates microtubule-associated proteins and key signaling pathways like WNT, PI3K/AKT/mTOR (PAM), and NF-κB.
  • Dysregulation of MARK2 is implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the structural features of MARK2.
  • To elucidate MARK2's role in signaling pathways relevant to cancer and neurodegeneration.
  • To highlight MARK2 as a potential therapeutic target for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of MARK2's structure and function.
  • Analysis of MARK2's involvement in cancer cell growth, metastasis, and tau phosphorylation.
  • Exploration of MARK2's role in WNT, PAM, and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • MARK2's loss inhibits cancer cell growth and metastasis by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
  • MARK2 contributes to neurodegeneration through excessive tau phosphorylation.
  • MARK2's structural features and pathway regulation are detailed.

Conclusions:

  • MARK2 is a critical regulator in both cancer and neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.
  • MARK2 represents a promising drug target, though inhibitor development is limited.
  • Further research into MARK2 structure and function can accelerate inhibitor development.

More Related Videos

An Enzyme- and Serum-free Neural Stem Cell Culture Model for EMT Investigation Suited for Drug Discovery07:43

An Enzyme- and Serum-free Neural Stem Cell Culture Model for EMT Investigation Suited for Drug Discovery

Published on: August 23, 2016

10.0K
Author Spotlight: Genetically Engineered Mouse Models and Pathological Characterization of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Associated Tumors08:57

Author Spotlight: Genetically Engineered Mouse Models and Pathological Characterization of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Associated Tumors

Published on: May 17, 2024

1.9K

Related Concept Videos

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
5.8K
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
6.5K
Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
5.5K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.8K
Mouse Models of Cancer Study02:43

Mouse Models of Cancer Study

Mice have long served as models for studying human biology and pathology because of their phylogenetic and physiological similarity with humans. They are also easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory, and hence, many inbred strains are now available for research. Studies on mice have contributed immeasurably to our understanding of cancer biology.
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
5.5K
What is Cancer?02:12

What is Cancer?

Cells and tissues must meticulously coordinate their activities for the normal functioning of the human body. Therefore, they exhibit socially responsible behavior - resting, growing, dividing, differentiating, or dying - for the organism’s benefit. Cancer arises when cells divide uncontrollably and invade other tissues or organs.
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of...
10.7K