Pan-cancer analysis of trophinin-associated protein with potential implications in clinical significance, prognosis, and tumor microenvironment in human cancers

TROAP promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression via the PI3K/AKT pathway

PURPOSE

Trophinin-associated protein (TROAP) plays a crucial role in various human cancers. However, its involvement in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the clinical significance and biological function of TROAP in ESCC.

METHODS

The expression and clinical relevance of TROAP in ESCC were analyze using GEO and TCGA databases. TROAP expression in ESCC samples was further validated by qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to assess TROAP's role in ESCC progression. RNA-seq analysis followed by western blotting and pathway-specific activator were conducted to explore the underlying mechanism.

RESULTS

TROAP was found to be overexpressed in ESCC and was positively correlated with higher histological grade and advanced clinical stage. Overexpression of TROAP promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells in vitro, whereas knockdown of TROAP suppressed ESCC progression both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, TROAP facilitated ESCC progression by activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that TROAP promotes ESCC progression via activating PI3K/AKT pathway, suggesting that TROAP might be a promising therapeutic target for ESCC.

Insights from the protein interaction Universe of the multifunctional "Goldilocks" kinase DYRK1A

Human Dual specificity tyrosine (Y)-Regulated Kinase 1A (DYRK1A) is encoded by a dosage-dependent gene located in the Down syndrome critical region of human chromosome 21. The known substrates of DYRK1A include proteins involved in transcription, cell cycle control, DNA repair and other processes. However, the function and regulation of this kinase is not fully understood, and the current knowledge does not fully explain the dosage-dependent function of this kinase. Several recent proteomic studies identified DYRK1A interacting proteins in several human cell lines. Interestingly, several of known protein substrates of DYRK1A were undetectable in these studies, likely due to a transient nature of the kinase-substrate interaction. It is possible that the stronger-binding DYRK1A interacting proteins, many of which are poorly characterized, are involved in regulatory functions by recruiting DYRK1A to the specific subcellular compartments or distinct signaling pathways. Better understanding of these DYRK1A-interacting proteins could help to decode the cellular processes regulated by this important protein kinase during embryonic development and in the adult organism. Here, we review the current knowledge of the biochemical and functional characterization of the DYRK1A protein-protein interaction network and discuss its involvement in human disease.

METTL3 regulatory TROAP can regulate the progression of non-small cell lung cancer through PI3K/AKT and EMT signaling pathway

TROAP, interacts with trophinin and bystin, polys a key role in embryo implantation. TROAP is required for spindle assembly and centrosome integrity during the mitosis. TROAP has been described to promote tumorigenesis in a diverse range of cancer. We performed this study to assess the biological and clinical significance of TROAP in Non-small cell lung cancer. Forty-eight pairs of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissues and paraneoplastic tissues were collected. RT-qPCR, western bolt and immunohistochemistry assay was used to test TROAP RNA and protein expression not in LUAD tissues and paraneoplastic tissues but in LUAD cell lines and control cell lines. TROAP knockdown and overexpression vector were constructed and transfected into lung cancer cells. CCK-8, transwell, and wound healing assays were used to assess cell viability, migration, and invasion. The expression of PI3K/AKT and EMT signaling proteins and METTL3 were determined by western blot. We found the TROAP was enriched in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. TROAP knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion compared with control group in NSCLC. Mechanism analysis revealed that TROAP activated PI3K/AKT and EMT signaling pathway. To a certain extent, TROAP was regulated by METTL3. In a word, TROAP accelerated the progression of NSCLC through PI3K/AKT and EMT pathway, and TROAP might be considered as a novel target for NSCLC therapy.