《4/5醫學中心聯合演講》Prof. Shoukat Dedhar - The Role of Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) in Development and Disease: New insights in Cancer Progression
The Role of Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) in Development and Disease: New insights in Cancer Progression
Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) is a scaffold and protein kinase that bridges beta1Integrin receptors to the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton. ILK is also an effector of growth factor signaling, and regulates several downstream signaling pathways through protein-protein interactions and phosphorylation.
Transgenic models of ILK have identified ILK as an essential component of early embryonic development, as well as in tissue specific development. Overexpression of ILK protein is a common occurrence in many types of cancers, and its genetic or pharmacological inhibition results in tumor cell apoptosis and growth suppression, making it an attractive cancer therapeutic target.
In my presentation, I will review recent advances in the identification of the ILK interactome and its roles in development and disease, and also present new data illustrating its critical role in the regulation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and in Hippo and Pi3Kinase signaling pathways.
