Activation of mTOR: A new mechanism 'PIMed'.

摘要

The oncoprotein PIM1 belongs to a family of evolutionarily conserved cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinases implicated in oncogenesis in hematologic malignancies and prostate cancer. PIM1 is overexpressed or mutated in cancer cells, where it serves as a downstream effector of several cytokine signaling pathways promoting cell survival and proliferation. PIM1 phosphorylates and inactivates Bad, which enhances the antiapoptotic functions of Bcl-2 and improves survival. PIM1 also phosphorylates cdc25A and cdc25C, as well as mediates the phosphorylation and inactivation of p21 and p27.