Lessons from the Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca Transporters-A Cancer Connection.

Ca is an integral mediator of intracellular signaling, impacting almost every aspect of cellular life. The Ca-conducting transporters located on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane shoulder the responsibility of constructing the global Ca signaling landscape. These transporters gate the ER Ca release and uptake, sculpt signaling duration and intensity, and compose the Ca signaling rhythm to accommodate a plethora of biological activities.

The lysosomal TRPML1 channel regulates triple negative breast cancer development by promoting mTORC1 and purinergic signaling pathways.

The triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) that comprises approximately 10%-20% of breast cancers is an aggressive subtype lacking effective therapeutics. Among various signaling pathways, mTORC1 and purinergic signals have emerged as potentially fruitful targets for clinical therapy of TNBC. Unfortunately, drugs targeting these signaling pathways do not successfully inhibit the progression of TNBC, partially due to the fact that these signaling pathways are essential for the function of all types of cells.