PTEN
PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) is a lipid and protein phosphatase that acts as a tumour suppressor by dephosphorylating phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate and antagonising PI3K-AKT/PKB signalling. It is also known as MMAC1, TEP1, PTEN1, BZS and MHAM. Browse Assay Genie's current range of PTEN research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
PTEN is a phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate 3-phosphatase. By removing the 3-phosphate from this lipid, it negatively regulates intracellular phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate levels and so functions as a tumour suppressor through negative regulation of the AKT/PKB signalling pathway. The protein carries a catalytic domain similar to that of the dual-specificity protein tyrosine phosphatases, but unlike most protein tyrosine phosphatases it preferentially dephosphorylates phosphoinositide substrates. It also contains a tensin-like domain.
The PTEN gene encodes a member of the PTEN phosphatase protein family, which HGNC places within the C2 tensin-type domain containing, PTEN protein phosphatase and phosphoinositide phosphatase groups. UniProt records localisation to the cytoplasm, nucleus (including PML bodies), dendritic spines and postsynaptic density, and a secreted form. Alternative splicing and the use of multiple translation start codons give rise to several transcript variants and isoforms. The mouse and rat orthologs are both named Pten, and a pseudogene of the human gene lies on chromosome 9.
Translation from a non-canonical upstream CUG start codon, which initiates with leucine, produces a longer isoform thought to associate preferentially with the mitochondrial inner membrane. This isoform may help regulate mitochondrial energy metabolism. According to UniProt, a functional isoform that, like isoform 1, antagonises PI3K-AKT/PKB signalling also promotes COX activity and ATP production, working with isoform 1 to raise PINK1 protein levels. PTEN is mutated at high frequency in a large number of cancers, which is why it is studied so widely in oncology and signalling research.
PTEN is a tumour suppressor mutated at high frequency across many cancers, making it a central subject in studies of tumour development.
By lowering phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate, PTEN negatively regulates AKT/PKB signalling and serves as a key node for pathway analysis.
A longer, mitochondria-associated isoform may regulate energy metabolism, promoting COX activity and ATP production via PINK1 levels.
PTEN preferentially dephosphorylates phosphoinositide substrates, unlike most protein tyrosine phosphatases, which makes it a model for lipid phosphatase function.
PTEN is a phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate 3-phosphatase. It lowers intracellular levels of this lipid and thereby negatively regulates the AKT/PKB signalling pathway, which underlies its role as a tumour suppressor. It also has dual-specificity protein phosphatase activity, though it prefers phosphoinositide substrates.
PTEN is also known as MMAC1, TEP1, PTEN1, BZS and MHAM. Alternative splicing and multiple translation start codons yield several isoforms, including a longer form initiated at a CUG codon that is thought to associate with the mitochondrial inner membrane.
Mouse and rat both have a Pten ortholog. The human gene is mutated at high frequency in many cancers, consistent with its tumour suppressor function. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Pathway partners and related markers in PI3K-AKT signalling, tumour suppression and mitochondrial metabolism with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P60484; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.