Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics
Published on: May 14, 2016
Plakophilin 1 in cancer: context-dependent dualism, subcellular dynamics, and therapeutic targeting
Yu-Mei Huang1,2, Wen-Ling Zhang2, Fa-Qing Tang1
1Clinical Laboratory of Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Oncotarget Gene, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Abstract:
Plakophilin 1 (PKP1) is a desmosomal protein that plays a dual role in cancer, acting as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor depending on the context. This review consolidates evidence regarding its mechanistic regulation via crucial signaling pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT, and MAPK and underscores its potential as a clinical biomarker. The function of PKP1 is influenced by its subcellular localization: when membrane-bound, PKP1 stabilizes cell adhesion, whereas in the cytoplasm or nucleus, it facilitates oncogenesis by promoting MYC translation and modulating DNA damage. Phosphorylation events further refine this functional plasticity. Clinically, PKP1 expression is valuable for cancer subtyping and prognosis. This review also addresses unresolved questions concerning its regulation and suggests that future research in these areas could unlock the potential of PKP1 in precision oncology strategies.
Related Concept Videos
Cytoskeletal Linker Proteins - Plakins
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Somatic...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Destabilization of Microtubules
Abnormal Proliferation
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

