Twist-related protein 1 (TWIST1) also known as class A basic helix–loop–helix protein 38 (bHLHa38) is a

basic helix-loop-helix BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages designed for ease of use. The original version was created by John G. Kemeny and Thomas E. Kurtz at Dartmouth College i ...

transcription factor that in humans is encoded by the ''TWIST1'' gene.

Function

Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors have been implicated in cell lineage determination and differentiation. The protein encoded by this gene is a bHLH transcription factor and shares similarity with another bHLH transcription factor, Dermo1 (a.k.a.

TWIST2 Twist-related protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''TWIST2'' gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor and shares similarity with another bHLH transcription factor, TWIST1. ...

). The strongest expression of this mRNA is in placental tissue; in adults, mesodermally derived tissues express this mRNA preferentially. Twist1 is thought to regulate osteogenic lineage.

Clinical significance

Mutations in the TWIST1 gene are associated with Saethre–Chotzen syndrome,

breast cancer Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a r ...

, and Sézary syndrome.

As an oncogene

Twist plays an essential role in cancer metastasis. Over-expression of Twist or

methylation In the chemical sciences, methylation denotes the addition of a methyl group on a substrate, or the substitution of an atom (or group) by a methyl group. Methylation is a form of alkylation, with a methyl group replacing a hydrogen atom. These t ...

of its promoter is common in

metastatic carcinoma Metastatic carcinoma is cancer that is able to grow at sites distant from the primary site of origin; thus, dissemination to the skin may occur with any malignant neoplasm, and these infiltrates may result from direct invasion of the skin from unde ...

s. Hence targeting Twist has a great promise as a cancer therapeutic. In cooperation with

N-Myc N-myc proto-oncogene protein also known as N-Myc or basic helix-loop-helix protein 37 (bHLHe37), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MYCN'' gene. Function The ''MYCN'' gene is a member of the MYC family of transcription factors an ...

, Twist-1 acts as an oncogene in several cancers including neuroblastoma. Twist is activated by a variety of signal transduction pathways, including

Akt Protein kinase B (PKB), also known as Akt, is the collective name of a set of three serine/threonine-specific protein kinases that play key roles in multiple cellular processes such as glucose metabolism, apoptosis, cell proliferation, transc ...

, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (

STAT3 Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor which in humans is encoded by the ''STAT3'' gene. It is a member of the STAT protein family. Function STAT3 is a member of the STAT protein family. In respons ...

), mitogen-activated protein kinase,

Ras Ras or RAS may refer to: Arts and media * RAS Records Real Authentic Sound, a reggae record label * Rundfunk Anstalt Südtirol, a south Tyrolese public broadcasting service * Rás 1, an Icelandic radio station * Rás 2, an Icelandic radio sta ...

, and

Wnt signaling The Wnt signaling pathways are a group of signal transduction pathways which begin with proteins that pass signals into a cell through cell surface receptors. The name Wnt is a portmanteau created from the names Wingless and Int-1. Wnt signaling p ...

. Activated Twist upregulates

N-cadherin Cadherin-2 also known as Neural cadherin (N-cadherin), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''CDH2'' gene. CDH2 has also been designated as CD325 (cluster of differentiation 325). Cadherin-2 is a transmembrane protein expressed in multip ...

and downregulates E-cadherin, which are the hallmarks of EMT. Moreover, Twist plays an important role in some physiological processes involved in metastasis, like angiogenesis, invadopodia, extravasation, and chromosomal instability. Twist also protects cancer cells from apoptotic cell death. In addition, Twist is responsible for the maintenance of cancer stem cells and the development of chemotherapy resistance. Twist1 is extensively studied for its role in head- and neck cancers. Here and in epithelial ovarian cancer, Twist1 has been shown to be involved in evading apoptosis, making the tumour cells resistant against platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs like cisplatin. Moreover, Twist1 has been shown to be expressed under conditions of hypoxia, corresponding to the observation that hypoxic cells respond less to chemotherapeutic drugs. Another process in which Twist 1 is involved is tumour metastasis. The underlying mechanism is not completely understood, but it has been implicated in the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and inhibition of TIMP. Recently, targeting Twist has gained interest as a target for cancer therapeutics. The inactivation of Twist by

small interfering RNA Small interfering RNA (siRNA), sometimes known as short interfering RNA or silencing RNA, is a class of double-stranded RNA at first non-coding RNA molecules, typically 20-24 (normally 21) base pairs in length, similar to miRNA, and operating w ...

or chemotherapeutic approach has been demonstrated ''in vitro''. Moreover, several inhibitors which are antagonistic to the upstream or downstream molecules of Twist signaling pathways have also been identified.

Interactions

Twist transcription factor has been shown to interact with EP300,

TCF3 Transcription factor 3 (E2A immunoglobulin enhancer-binding factors E12/E47), also known as TCF3, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''TCF3'' gene. TCF3 has been shown to directly enhance Hes1 (a well-known target of Notch signaling) ...

and PCAF.

References

External links

GeneReviews/NCBI.NIH.UW entry on Saethre–Chotzen syndrome
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Twist Transcription Factor Transcription factors