MEMO1, a new IRS1-interacting protein, induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition in mammary epithelial cells

Oncogene. 2013 Jun 27;32(26):3130-8. doi: 10.1038/onc.2012.327. Epub 2012 Jul 23.

Abstract

MEMO1 (mediator of ErbB2-driven cell motility 1) regulates HER2-dependent cell migration. Increased MEMO1 expression is associated with cancer aggressiveness. Here, we found that MEMO1 is also involved in breast carcinogenesis via regulating insulin-like growth factor-I receptor-dependent signaling events. We showed that MEMO1 binds to insulin receptor substrate 1, activates the downstream PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, leads to upregulation of Snail1 and thereby triggers the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program. In addition, MEMO1 overexpression is accompanied by growth factor-independent proliferation, anchorage-independent growth in soft agar, and enhanced metastatic potential. Together, these findings suggest that MEMO1 acts as an oncogene and is a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / physiology*
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins / metabolism*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mammary Glands, Human / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Nonheme Iron Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • IRS1 protein, human
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • MEMO1 protein, human
  • Nonheme Iron Proteins
  • SNAI1 protein, human
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt