Kinase-Independent Functions of MASTL in Cancer: A New Perspective on MASTL Targeting.

Abstract

Microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase-like (MASTL; Greatwall) is a well-characterized kinase, whose catalytic role has been extensively studied in relation to cell-cycle acceleration. Importantly, MASTL has been implicated to play a substantial role in cancer progression and subsequent studies have shown that MASTL is a significant regulator of the cellular actomyosin cytoskeleton. Several kinases have non-catalytic properties, which are essential or even sufficient for their functions. Likewise, MASTL functions have been attributed both to kinase-dependent phosphorylation of downstream substrates, but also to kinase-independent regulation of the actomyosin contractile machinery. In this review, we aimed to highlight the catalytic and non-catalytic roles of MASTL in proliferation, migration, and invasion. Further, we discussed the implications of this dual role for therapeutic design.

• Authors: James Ronald William Conway, Elisa Närvä, Maria Emilia Taskinen, Johanna Ivaska
• Journal: Cells (Cells) Vol. 9 Issue 7 (07 06 2020) ISSN: 2073-4409 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 32640605 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Actins
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins
• MASTL protein, human
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases

Topics

• Actins (metabolism)
• Animals
• Cell Cycle (genetics, physiology)
• Cell Proliferation (genetics, physiology)
• Humans
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Neoplasms (enzymology, genetics, metabolism)
• Phosphorylation
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases (genetics, metabolism)