Progress of the role of serine-threonine kinase receptor-associated protein in tumorigenesis

Abstract

Serine-threonine kinase receptor-associated protein (STRAP) is initially identified as a putative inhibitor of the canonical transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway by Dr. Datta. Because the Smad-dependent TGF-β pathway negatively regulates cellular growth, and STRAP has been found overexpressed in various cancers, like colorectal, lung and breast carcinoma, early functional studies suggested that STRAP behaves as an oncogene. As the progress of new studies on the biological function of STRAP, it is becoming clear that STRAP has diversity function to regulate multiple signaling pathways. Due to the absence of enzymatic activity, it appears that STRAP influences multiple biological processes through direct associations with other cellular proteins within the β propeller of its WD40 domain. In this review, we will comprehensively describe the progress of the role of STRAP in tumorigenesis. Key words: Serine-threonine kinase receptor-associated protein; Transforming growth factor-β; β-catenin; Nonmetastatic gene 23-H1; Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1; Tumorigenesis