IQGAPs in cancer: A family of scaffold proteins underlying tumorigenesis

White, Colin D.; Brown, Matthew D.; Sacks, David B.

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2009.05.007

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Volume 583, Issue 12 , Pages 1817-1824, 18 June 2009

IQGAPs in cancer: A family of scaffold proteins underlying tumorigenesis

Edited by Lukas Huber

Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Thorn 530, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA

Received 27 March 2009; received in revised form 28 April 2009; accepted 2 May 2009. published online 11 May 2009.

Abstract

The IQGAP family comprises three proteins in humans. The best characterized is IQGAP1, which participates in protein–protein interactions and integrates diverse signaling pathways. IQGAP2 and IQGAP3 harbor all the domains identified in IQGAP1, but their biological roles are poorly defined. Proteins that bind IQGAP1 include Cdc42 and Rac1, E-cadherin, β-catenin, calmodulin and components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, all of which are involved in cancer. Here, we summarize the biological functions of IQGAPs that may contribute to neoplasia. Additionally, we review published data which implicate IQGAPs in cancer and tumorigenesis. The cumulative evidence suggests IQGAP1 is an oncogene while IQGAP2 may be a tumor suppressor.

Abbreviations: APC, adenomatous polyposis coli, CK1, casein kinase 1, ECM, extracellular matrix, EGF, epidermal growth factor, ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, FGF, fibroblast growth factor, GAP, GTPase-activating protein, GSK-3β, glycogen synthase kinase-3β, HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma, MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase, MEK, MAPK kinase, MMP, matrix metalloproteinase, VEGF, vascular endothelial-derived growth factor