Role and characterization of synuclein-γ unconventional protein secretion in cancer cells

Abstract

Synuclein-γ (SNCG), the third member of synuclein family, is implicated in both neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Overexpression of SNCG in cancer cells is linked to tumor progression and chemoresistance. Without any known signal sequence required for conventional protein secretion, SNCG is elevated in the serum of cancer patients and the medium of cultured cancer cells. SNCG actively secretes from cancer cells and extracellular SNCG promotes malignant phenotypes of cancer cells. Here, we describe methods for the characterization of SNCG as an unconventional secretion protein from cancer cells and investigation of the effect of extracellular SNCG on the phenotypes of cancer cells.