The multiple cellular functions of the oncoprotein Golgi phosphoprotein 3

// Stefano Sechi 1,* , Anna Frappaolo 1,* , Giorgio Belloni 2 , Gianni Colotti 3 , Maria Grazia Giansanti 1 1 Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari del CNR, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Roma, Italy 2 Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Roma, Italy 3 Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari del CNR, Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Roma, Italy * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Maria Grazia Giansanti, e-mail: mariagrazia.giansanti@uniroma1.it Keywords: GOLPH3, cancer, Golgi Received: November 06, 2014      Accepted: January 07, 2015      Published: January 23, 2015 ABSTRACT The highly conserved Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3) protein, a component of Trans-Golgi Network (TGN), has been defined as a “first-in-class Golgi oncoprotein” and characterized as a Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate [PI(4)P] effector at the Golgi. GOLPH3 is commonly amplified in several solid tumors. Furthermore this protein has been associated with poor prognosis in many cancers. Highly conserved from yeast to humans, GOLPH3 provides an essential function in vesicle trafficking and Golgi structure. Recent data have also implicated this oncoprotein in regulation of cytokinesis, modulation of mitochondrial mass and cellular response to DNA damage. A minute dissection of the molecular pathways that require GOLPH3 protein will be helpful to develop new therapeutic cancer strategies.