PTPN14

PTPN14 (Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non-Receptor Type 14), also known as PP-RHO or POPX2, is a protein phosphatase encoded by the PTPN14 gene in humans. It belongs to the non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) family, a group of enzymes that regulate a wide variety of cellular processes by removing phosphate groups from tyrosine residues on target proteins.

PTPN14 plays a crucial role in regulating cell growth, cell cycle progression, and cell motility. It has been implicated in various cellular signaling pathways, notably the Hippo signaling pathway. Specifically, PTPN14 dephosphorylates and activates the tumor suppressor LATS1/2 kinases. LATS1/2 then phosphorylates and inhibits YAP/TAZ, key transcriptional co-activators involved in cell proliferation and survival.

The PTPN14 gene is located on chromosome 1q41. Mutations and deletions of PTPN14 have been observed in various cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Loss of PTPN14 function leads to increased YAP/TAZ activity, promoting tumor development and metastasis. Therefore, PTPN14 is considered a tumor suppressor gene.

Research suggests that PTPN14 also interacts with other proteins involved in cell adhesion and migration, contributing to its role in cancer metastasis. Understanding the precise mechanisms by which PTPN14 functions and its role in different cancers is an area of active research.