γ‐Synuclein and the progression of cancer

M Ahmad, S Attoub, MN Singh, FL Martin… - The FASEB …, 2007 - Wiley Online Library
M Ahmad, S Attoub, MN Singh, FL Martin, OMA El‐Agnaf
The FASEB Journal, 2007Wiley Online Library
The synucleins are a small, soluble, highly conserved group of neuronal proteins that have
been implicated in both neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. The synuclein family
consists of α‐, β‐, and γ‐synucleins (γ‐syn). They are a natively unfolded group of proteins
that share sequence homologies and structural properties (1, 2). So far, the biological
functions of the synucleins are still unclear, but their involvement in neurodegenerative
diseases and cancer may provide insights into the pathological processes that result from …
Abstract
The synucleins are a small, soluble, highly conserved group of neuronal proteins that have been implicated in both neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. The synuclein family consists of α‐, β‐, and γ‐synucleins (γ‐syn). They are a natively unfolded group of proteins that share sequence homologies and structural properties (1, 2). So far, the biological functions of the synucleins are still unclear, but their involvement in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer may provide insights into the pathological processes that result from these two groups of debilitating dis‐eases, and present the possibility to use them as potential targets for early diagnosis and treatment.
Recently, elevated levels of γ‐syn proteins have been detected in various types of cancer, especially in advanced stages of the disease. Furthermore, studies to date indicate that overexpression of γ‐syn compromises normal mitotic checkpoint controls, resulting in multinucleation as well as faster cell growth. γ‐Syn has also been shown to promote invasion and metastasis in in vitro assays as well as in animal models. Overexpression of γ‐syn also interferes with drug‐induced apopto‐tic responses. These observations raise questions about the involvement of γ‐syn in the process of tumorigen‐esis and metastasis, and efforts have already been made to use γ‐syn as a marker for assessing breast cancer progression (3). This review will discuss the involvement of γ‐syn in cancer progression, metastasis and its potential as a marker.—Ahmad M., Attoub, S., Singh, M. N., Martin, F. L., El‐Agnaf O. M. A. γ‐Synuclein and the progression of cancer. FASEB J. 21, 3419–3430 (2007)
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