Rac1: A Regulator of Cell Migration and a Potential Target for Cancer Therapy
Cell migration is crucial for physiological and pathological processes such as morphogenesis, wound repair, immune response and cancer invasion/metastasis. There are many factors affecting cell migration, and the regulatory mechanisms are complex. Rac1 is a GTP-binding protein with small molecular w...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/7/2976 |
| _version_ | 1797607457615249408 |
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| author | Ning Ma Erqian Xu Qing Luo Guanbin Song |
| author_facet | Ning Ma Erqian Xu Qing Luo Guanbin Song |
| author_sort | Ning Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cell migration is crucial for physiological and pathological processes such as morphogenesis, wound repair, immune response and cancer invasion/metastasis. There are many factors affecting cell migration, and the regulatory mechanisms are complex. Rac1 is a GTP-binding protein with small molecular weight belonging to the Rac subfamily of the Rho GTPase family. As a key molecule in regulating cell migration, Rac1 participates in signal transduction from the external cell to the actin cytoskeleton and promotes the establishment of cell polarity which plays an important role in cancer cell invasion/metastasis. In this review, we firstly introduce the molecular structure and activity regulation of Rac1, and then summarize the role of Rac1 in cancer invasion/metastasis and other physiological processes. We also discuss the regulatory mechanisms of Rac1 in cell migration and highlight it as a potential target in cancer therapy. Finally, the current state as well as the future challenges in this area are considered. Understanding the role and the regulatory mechanism of Rac1 in cell migration can provide fundamental insights into Rac1-related cancer progression and further help us to develop novel intervention strategies for cancer therapy in clinic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:30:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-edd0e48427e04a41bffbf7ae924dfd06 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:30:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-edd0e48427e04a41bffbf7ae924dfd062023-11-17T17:11:43ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-03-01287297610.3390/molecules28072976Rac1: A Regulator of Cell Migration and a Potential Target for Cancer TherapyNing Ma0Erqian Xu1Qing Luo2Guanbin Song3College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, ChinaCollege of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, ChinaCollege of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, ChinaCollege of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, ChinaCell migration is crucial for physiological and pathological processes such as morphogenesis, wound repair, immune response and cancer invasion/metastasis. There are many factors affecting cell migration, and the regulatory mechanisms are complex. Rac1 is a GTP-binding protein with small molecular weight belonging to the Rac subfamily of the Rho GTPase family. As a key molecule in regulating cell migration, Rac1 participates in signal transduction from the external cell to the actin cytoskeleton and promotes the establishment of cell polarity which plays an important role in cancer cell invasion/metastasis. In this review, we firstly introduce the molecular structure and activity regulation of Rac1, and then summarize the role of Rac1 in cancer invasion/metastasis and other physiological processes. We also discuss the regulatory mechanisms of Rac1 in cell migration and highlight it as a potential target in cancer therapy. Finally, the current state as well as the future challenges in this area are considered. Understanding the role and the regulatory mechanism of Rac1 in cell migration can provide fundamental insights into Rac1-related cancer progression and further help us to develop novel intervention strategies for cancer therapy in clinic.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/7/2976Rac1cell migrationinvasionmetastasisactin cytoskeletoncancer therapy |
| spellingShingle | Ning Ma Erqian Xu Qing Luo Guanbin Song Rac1: A Regulator of Cell Migration and a Potential Target for Cancer Therapy Molecules Rac1 cell migration invasion metastasis actin cytoskeleton cancer therapy |
| title | Rac1: A Regulator of Cell Migration and a Potential Target for Cancer Therapy |
| title_full | Rac1: A Regulator of Cell Migration and a Potential Target for Cancer Therapy |
| title_fullStr | Rac1: A Regulator of Cell Migration and a Potential Target for Cancer Therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rac1: A Regulator of Cell Migration and a Potential Target for Cancer Therapy |
| title_short | Rac1: A Regulator of Cell Migration and a Potential Target for Cancer Therapy |
| title_sort | rac1 a regulator of cell migration and a potential target for cancer therapy |
| topic | Rac1 cell migration invasion metastasis actin cytoskeleton cancer therapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/7/2976 |
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