Biomolecules (Jun 2023)

Synuclein Proteins in Cancer Development and Progression

  • Lucía C. Zanotti,
  • Florencia Malizia,
  • Nahuel Cesatti Laluce,
  • Aylén Avila,
  • Macarena Mamberto,
  • Luciano E. Anselmino,
  • Mauricio Menacho-Márquez

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13060980
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 6
p. 980

Abstract

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Synucleins are a family of small, soluble proteins mainly expressed in neural tissue and in certain tumors. Since their discovery, tens of thousands of scientific reports have been published about this family of proteins as they are associated with severe human diseases. Although the physiological function of these proteins is still elusive, their relationship with neurodegeneration and cancer has been clearly described over the years. In this review, we summarize data connecting synucleins and cancer, going from the structural description of these molecules to their involvement in tumor-related processes, and discuss the putative use of these proteins as cancer molecular biomarkers.

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