Analysis of the regulatory mechanisms of the actin cytoskeleton in invadopodia formation by cancer cells

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25430126
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tumor biology
• Research Institution: National Cancer Center Japan
• Principal Investigator: Yamaguchi Hideki 国立研究開発法人国立がん研究センター, 研究所, ユニット長 (10345035)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 浸潤突起 / アクチニン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Invadopodia are membrane protrusions formed by invasive cancer cells that contain bundled actin filaments and mediate degradation of the extracellular matrix. Invadopodia are thought to promote cancer invasion. In this study, the function of actinin-4, an actin bundling protein implicated in cancer progression, in invadopodia formation was investigated. Actinin-4 localized at invadopodia and was required for the formation of actin structures and the extracellular matrix degradation activity of invadopodia. Overexpression of actinin-4 enhanced invadopodia formation and this activity required the actin bundling activity. These results indicate that actinin-4 bundles actin filaments at invadopodia and plays an important role in cancer invasion and metastasis.

Free Research Field

腫瘍生物学、細胞生物学