Melanoma proteoglycan modifies gene expression to stimulate tumor cell motility, growth, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

ABSTRACT: Melanoma chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (MCSP) is a plasma membrane-associated proteoglycan that facilitates the growth, motility, and invasion of tumor cells. MCSP expression in melanoma cells enhances integrin function and constitutive activation of Erk1,2. The current studies were performed to determine the mechanism by which MCSP expression promotes tumor growth and motility. The results show that MCSP expression in radial growth phase, vertical growth phase, or metastatic cell lines causes sustained activation of Erk1,2, enhanced growth, and motility which all require the cytoplasmic domain of the MCSP core protein. MCSP expression in a radial growth phase cell line also promotes an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition based on changes in cell morphology and the expression of severa

SUBMITTER: Yang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2762355 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature