| CAPN1 (Calpain 1; μ-Calpain) — Calcium-dependent cysteine protease of the conventional calpain family. CAPN1 participates in limited proteolysis of cytoskeletal, adhesion, signaling, and regulatory proteins and thereby influences cell migration, invasion, adhesion, survival, and tissue remodeling.
Typical modulation in cancer: Frequently ↑ or activated and often tumor-promoting. Increased CAPN1 activity can promote cytoskeletal remodeling, focal-adhesion turnover, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and metastatic behavior. Effects can vary by tumor type and substrate context.
Typical mechanistic relationship: Intracellular Ca2+ ↑ → CAPN1 activation → regulated proteolysis of cytoskeletal and adhesion-associated proteins → focal-adhesion turnover / actin remodeling ↑ → migration and invasion ↑.
Additional functions: CAPN1 can also regulate apoptosis, autophagy, membrane repair, signal transduction, and proteolytic processing of numerous cellular proteins.
|