The Tetraspanin Tspan8 Associates with Endothelin Converting Enzyme ECE1 and Regulates Its Activity

Tspan8 is a member of the tetraspanins family cell surface molecules. The ability to organize membrane microdomains with other molecules and interfere their function suggests that they could act as integrators external or internal signals. Among first identified tetraspanins, promotes tumor progression metastasis, presumably by stimulating angiogenesis motility. In patients, its expression on digestive tract tumors seems be associated bad prognosis. We showed previously associates E-cadherin EGFR modulates effects Using Mass spectrometry western blot, we found new partner, endothelin converting enzyme ECE1, amplifies activity conversion endothelin-1 precursor bigET1 endothelin. This was observed transduction colon carcinoma line Isreco1, which does not express Tspan8, ileum tissue fragments tspan8ko mice versus wild type mice. Given these results, appears modulator axis, possibly targeted in case over-activity endothelins biological processes tissues expressing Tspan8.