All eyes on Eya: A unique transcriptional co-activator and phosphatase in cancer

Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer. 2024 May;1879(3):189098. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189098. Epub 2024 Mar 28.

Abstract

The Eya family of proteins (consisting of Eyas1-4 in mammals) play vital roles in embryogenesis by regulating processes such as proliferation, migration/invasion, cellular survival and pluripotency/plasticity of epithelial and mesenchymal states. Eya proteins carry out such diverse functions through a unique combination of transcriptional co-factor, Tyr phosphatase, and PP2A/B55α-mediated Ser/Thr phosphatase activities. Since their initial discovery, re-expression of Eyas has been observed in numerous tumor types, where they are known to promote tumor progression through a combination of their transcriptional and enzymatic activities. Eya proteins thus reinstate developmental processes during malignancy and represent a compelling class of therapeutic targets for inhibiting tumor progression.

Keywords: Eya proteins; Metastasis; Protein phosphatase 2A; Serine/threonine phosphatase; Transcriptional co-factor; Tyrosine phosphatase.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Eye Proteins / genetics
  • Eye Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases* / genetics
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases* / metabolism

Substances

  • EYA2 protein, human
  • EYA1 protein, human