Publications by authors named "Karen A Pickering"

ECT2 is an activator of RHO GTPases that is essential for cytokinesis. In addition, ECT2 was identified as an oncoprotein when expressed ectopically in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. However, oncogenic activation of ECT2 resulted from N-terminal truncation, and such truncated ECT2 proteins have not been found in patients with cancer.

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In this issue, Miyabayashi and colleagues describe a novel intraductal model of pancreatic cancer that allows modeling of the transcriptional subtypes of pancreatic cancer. Using this model, they are able to observe subtype switching driven by the microenvironment, a process at least partially mediated by RAS signaling..

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Ral GTPases are RAS effector molecules and by implication a potential therapeutic target for RAS mutant cancer. However, very little is known about their roles in stem cells and tissue homeostasis. Using Drosophila, we identified expression of RalA in intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and progenitor cells of the fly midgut.

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