Twist transcription factor
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Twist-related protein 1 (TWIST1) also known as class A basic helix–loop–helix protein 38 (bHLHa38) is a
basic helix-loop-helix Basic or BASIC may refer to: Science and technology * BASIC, a computer programming language * Basic (chemistry), having the properties of a base * Basic access authentication, in HTTP Entertainment * ''Basic'' (film), a 2003 film * Basic, one ...
transcription factor In molecular biology, a transcription factor (TF) (or sequence-specific DNA-binding factor) is a protein that controls the rate of transcription (genetics), transcription of genetics, genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA, by binding t ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''TWIST1''
gene In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...
.


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). 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 a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...
, and Sézary syndrome.


Craniosynostosis

TWIST1 mutations are involved in a number of
craniosynostosis Craniosynostosis is a condition in which one or more of the fibrous sutures in a young infant's skull prematurely fuses by turning into bone (ossification), thereby changing the growth pattern of the skull. Because the skull cannot expand perpe ...
presentations. It can present in nonsyndromic forms (isolated scaphocephaly, right unicoronal synostosis, and
turricephaly Turricephaly is a type of cephalic disorder where the head appears tall with a small length and width. It is due to premature closure of the coronal suture plus any other suture, like the lambdoid, or it may be used to describe the premature fu ...
), but also in syndromic forms such as: * Acrocephalosyndactyly type 1 (
Apert syndrome Apert syndrome is a form of acrocephalosyndactyly, a congenital disorder characterized by malformations of the skull, face, hands and feet. It is classified as a branchial arch syndrome, affecting the first Pharyngeal arch, branchial (or pharyn ...
) (primary
FGFR2 Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR-2) also known as CD332 (cluster of differentiation 332) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''FGFR2'' gene residing on chromosome 10. FGFR2 is a receptor for fibroblast growth factor. FGFR-2 is ...
) * Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata syndrome (primary FGFR2) * Crouzon syndrome (primary FGFR2) * Crouzon syndrome-acanthosis nigricans syndrome (primary
FGFR3 Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR-3) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''FGFR3'' gene. FGFR3 has also been designated as CD333 (cluster of differentiation 333). The gene, which is located on chromosome 4, location p16.3, is e ...
) * Jackson-Weiss syndrome (primary FGFR1 or FGFR2) * Muenke syndrome (primary FGFR3) *
Pfeiffer syndrome Pfeiffer syndrome is a rare genetic disorder, characterized by the premature fusion of certain bones of the human skull, skull (craniosynostosis), which affects the shape of the head and face. The syndrome includes abnormalities of the hands an ...
(primary FGFR1 or FGFR2)


As an oncogene

Twist plays an essential role in cancer metastasis. Over-expression of Twist or
methylation Methylation, in the chemistry, chemical sciences, is the addition of a methyl group on a substrate (chemistry), substrate, or the substitution of an atom (or group) by a methyl group. Methylation is a form of alkylation, with a methyl group replac ...
of its promoter is common in metastatic carcinomas. Hence targeting Twist has a great promise as a cancer therapeutic. In cooperation with N-Myc, Twist-1 acts as an
oncogene An oncogene is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, these genes are often mutated, or expressed at high levels.
in several cancers including
neuroblastoma Neuroblastoma (NB) is a type of cancer that forms in certain types of nerve tissue. It most frequently starts from one of the adrenal glands but can also develop in the head, neck, chest, abdomen, or Vertebral column, spine. Symptoms may include ...
. Twist is activated by a variety of
signal transduction Signal transduction is the process by which a chemical or physical signal is transmitted through a cell as a biochemical cascade, series of molecular events. Proteins responsible for detecting stimuli are generally termed receptor (biology), rece ...
pathways, including Akt, 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 respon ...
), mitogen-activated protein kinase, Ras, and Wnt signaling. Activated Twist upregulates N-cadherin and downregulates
E-cadherin Cadherin-1 or Epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''CDH1'' gene (not to be confused with the APC/C activator protein CDH1). Mutations are correlated with Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, gastric, Here ...
, 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 metalloproteinase Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), also known as matrix metallopeptidases or matrixins, are metalloproteinases that are calcium-dependent zinc-containing endopeptidases; other family members are adamalysins, serralysins, and astacins. The MMPs be ...
s 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, double-stranded non-coding RNA, non-coding RNA, RNA molecules, typically 20–24 base pairs in length, similar to microR ...
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 Histone acetyltransferase p300 also known as p300 HAT or E1A-associated protein p300 (where E1A = adenovirus early region 1A) also known as EP300 or p300 is an enzyme that, in humans, is encoded by the ''EP300'' gene. It functions as histone ace ...
,
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) e ...
and
PCAF P300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF), also known as K(lysine) acetyltransferase 2B (KAT2B), is a human gene and transcriptional coactivator associated with p53. Structure Several domains of PCAF can act independently or in unison to enable its fu ...
.


See also

*
Transcription factor In molecular biology, a transcription factor (TF) (or sequence-specific DNA-binding factor) is a protein that controls the rate of transcription (genetics), transcription of genetics, genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA, by binding t ...
* TWIST2


References


Further reading

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Z


External links


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