ADP-ribosylation factor 6 regulates tumor cell invasion through the activation of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Tumor cell invasion through the extracellular matrix is accompanied by the formation of invadopodia, which are actin-rich protrusions at the adherent surface of cells at sites of extracellular matrix degradation. Using the invasive human melanoma cell line LOX as a model system, we demonstrate that the ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) GTPase is an important regulator of invadopodia formation and cell invasion. We show that ARF6 localizes to invadopodia of LOX cells.

Puralpha is essential for postnatal brain development and developmentally coupled cellular proliferation as revealed by genetic inactivation in the mouse.

The single-stranded DNA- and RNA-binding protein, Puralpha, has been implicated in many biological processes, including control of transcription of multiple genes, initiation of DNA replication, and RNA transport and translation. Deletions of the PURA gene are frequent in acute myeloid leukemia. Mice with targeted disruption of the PURA gene in both alleles appear normal at birth, but at 2 weeks of age, they develop neurological problems manifest by severe tremor and spontaneous seizures and they die by 4 weeks.