EB3 [7]

EB proteins belong to the microtubule plus end tracking family proteins. They interact with cytoplasmic microtubules in interphase cells, with mitotic spindles, and with the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor. The end-binding protein 1, 2 and 3 (EB1-3) are involved in microtubule polymerization and stabilization with centrosomes as well as spindle function. EB1 (MAPRE2, microtubule-associated protein, RP/EB family, member 2, EB2, RP1) may influence tumorigenesis of colorectal cancers and proliferative control of normal cells. EB1 may belong to the intermediate/early gene family, involved in the signal transduction cascade downstream of the TCR. Colorectal cancer is caused by the pathologic transformation of normal colonic epithelium to an adenomatous polyp, which can become an invasive cancer. APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) is a tumor suppressor gene, the mutation of which is one of the earliest events in colorectal carcinogenesis. A majority of the mutations result in the loss of the carboxy terminus of APC. EB1 has been shown to bind to the carboxy terminal region of APC, which implicates EB1 in APC suppression of colonic cancer. EB1 overexpression may play a role in the development of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by affecting APC function and activating the beta-catenin/TCF pathway. EB3 is related to EB1 and likewise associates with the microtubule cytoskeleton. EB3 is expressed predominantly in the central nervous system and preferentially associates with APCL.