Signature and Mechanism of the Epitehlial-to-Mesenchymal Transition. Addendum

摘要

The Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a conserved developmental process that is thought to be reactivated during the metastasis of epithelial cancers such as breast cancer. This study seeks to identify genes commonly regulated in the EMT, and identify key regulators of the process. An EMT core gene signature of approximately 1000 genes was generated, from which the transcription factor Zeb1 emerged as a potent key regulator of the EMT. Zeb1 demonstrated a much stronger EMT-inducing ability than previously known factors, and was demonstrated to be both sufficient for EMT and necessary for maintenance of the mesenchymal phenotype. Efforts are underway to construct the genetic circuit stemming from Zeb1. A Zeb1-induced EMT model is also being employed to study the role of EMT in cancer metastasis in vivo.