Role of cdc37 in Breast Cancer

摘要

p50Cdc37 functions in the establishment of protein kinase signaling pathways by functioning in complex with molecular chaperone Hsp90. Cdc37/Hsp90 complex plays a central role in the establishment of pathways that are directly implicated in cell cycle promotion and transformation. Cdc37 targets intrinsically unstable kinases to the complex with Hsp90, and this transient interaction of newly synthesized kinases with the complex is necessary for their stabilization and/or folding and further activation. We created and analyzed a transgenic mouse model where Cdc37 expression is driven by MMTV or PB promoter, directing the expression into breast or prostate epithelial cells, respectively. Our study show that Cdc37 is a first identified chaperone functioning as an oncogene, and is capable of cooperating with other oncogenes such as c-myc, cyclin Dl and neu for transformation.