Oncogene database

10672

GNA13

guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein), alpha 13;GNA13;guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein), alpha 13

G-protein subunit alpha-13|g alpha-13|guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit alpha-13

17q24.3

protein-coding

OBJECTIVES: tumor microenvironment, defined by a variety of growth factors including lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), whose levels are increased in pancreatic cancer patients, plays a major role in the genesis and progression of pancreatic cancer. Because the gep proto-oncogenes, Galpha12 and Galpha13, are implicated in LPA-stimulated oncogenic signaling, this study is focused on evaluating the role of these proto-oncogenes in LPA-stimulated invasive migration of pancreatic cancer cells. METHODS: Effect of LPA on the migration and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells was assessed using BxPC3, Dan-G, MDAPanc-28, Panc-1, and PaCa-2 cell lines. The role of Galpha13 in the migration of pancreatic cancer cells was interrogated by disrupting lysophosphatidic acid receptor-Galpha13 interaction using CT13, a dominant negative mutant of Galpha13, and by silencing the expression of Galpha13. RESULTS: Results indicate that LPA stimulates the migration of pancreatic cancer cells and such LPA-stimulated migratory response is mediated by Galpha13. Furthermore, the results establish that the silencing of Galpha13, but not Galpha12, abrogates LPA-stimulated invasive migration of pancreatic cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results report for the first time a critical role for Galpha13 in LPA-stimulated invasive migration of pancreatic cancer cells. These findings identify LPA-lysophosphatidic acid receptor-Galpha13 signaling node as a novel therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer treatment and control.