MUC1

MUC1, mucin 1, alias MAM6, EMA, etc. MUC1 is a highly glycosylated type I transmembrane protein encoded by the MUC1 gene, which is located on chromosome 1q22, and can be generated by selective splicing to produce a variety of isoforms.The MUC1 protein consists of extracellular, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic regions, in which the extracellular region contains a large number of serine and threonine residues that can be O-glycosylated, which are essential for the biological function of MUC1.

MUC1 has a wide range of biological significance, as it acts as a protective barrier against the external environment and microorganisms in normal epithelial cells. However, in tumor cells, the expression of MUC1 is usually increased and its structure and glycosylation levels are altered. These alterations may lead to the exposure of new antigenic epitopes, providing potential targets for tumor diagnosis and therapy.MUC1 is also involved in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways, including the MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and Wnt pathways, which play important roles in tumor cell metabolism, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and distant metastasis .Abnormal MUC1 expression is closely associated with tumor invasiveness and metastatic ability, making it an important target in tumor therapy and diagnosis.