Current view on EpCAM structural biology

Gaber, Aljaž (author), Lenarčič, Brigita (author), Pavšič, Miha (author)

EpCAM, a carcinoma cell-surface marker protein and a therapeutic target, has been primarily addressed as a cell adhesion molecule. With regard to recent discoveries of its role in signaling with implications in cell proliferation and differentiation, and findings contradicting a direct role in mediating adhesion contacts, we provide a comprehensive and updated overview on the available structural data on EpCAM and interpret it in the light of recent reports on its function. First, we describe the structure of extracellular part of EpCAM, both as a subunit and part of a cis-dimer which, according to several experimental observations, represents a biologically relevant oligomeric state. Next, we provide a thorough evaluation of reports on EpCAM as a homophilic cell adhesion molecule with a structure-based explanation why direct EpCAM participation in cell–cell contacts is highly unlikely. Finally, we review the signaling aspect of EpCAM with focus on accessibility of signaling-associated cleavage sites.

• Language: English
• Keywords: EpCAM, transmembrane protein, structure, dimer, adhesion, regulated intramembrane proteolysis, signaling, disease
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: 18 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 9, iss. 6, art. 1361
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-133666
• UDC: 577.112
• ISSN on article: 2073-4409
• DOI: 10.3390/cells9061361
• COBISS.SI-ID: 17857539
• Publication date in RUL: 08.12.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Cells
• Shortened title: Cells
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2073-4409
• COBISS.SI-ID: 519958809

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 01.06.2020

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: EpCAM, transmembranski proteini, struktura, dimer, adhezija, regulirana znotrajmembranska proteoliza, signaliziranje, bolezni