Date of Graduation

8-2014

Document Type

Thesis (MS)

Program Affiliation

Biomedical Sciences

Degree Name

Masters of Science (MS)

Advisor/Committee Chair

Mien-Chie Hung Ph.D.

Committee Member

Paul J. Chiao Ph.D.

Committee Member

Min Gyu Lee Ph.D.

Committee Member

Zhen Fan M.D.

Committee Member

Jeffrey T. Chang Ph.D.

Abstract

MET is one of the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) that are overexpressed in malignant cancer types, including breast cancer. While RTKs are traditionally known for their roles in signaling transduction from the cell surface, recent studies have provided evidence demonstrating that most of RTKs can translocate into nucleus to regulate cellular processes in response to both ligand and stress stimulation. Oxidative stress is a common stress in cancer cells due to alteration of metabolism, and constitutive oxidative stress related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been observed in breast cancer cells. Here, we show that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) as well as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can induce nuclear translocation of full-length MET holoreceptor via a membrane-bound vesicle transport mechanism in breast cancer cells. Our findings provide a putative mechanism by which breast cancer cells adapt to oxidative stress.

Keywords

MET, oncogene, nuclear transport, breast cancer, hepatocyte growth factor receptor, ROS

Share

COinS