Impacto do cálcio na motilidade de células tumorais

Abstract

Ca2+ is an essential second messenger and cofactor for proteins and enzymes, being one of the most important intracellular signalling molecules in the regulation of cellular function. The regulation of Ca2+ levels is achieved through a complex mechanism that involves several signalling pathways, as well as proteins regulated by intracellular Ca2+, which control specific cellular processes, including cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, transcription and cell migration. Therefore, it is not surprising that various types of cancers result from the deregulation of this ion's homeostasis. There are several Ca2+ channels involved in the modelling of the levels of this ion in the plasma membrane and in several intracellular organelles, namely in the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi complex and lysosomes. It is important to highlight that the deregulation of these Ca2+ flow regulators is associated with changes in the behaviour of tumour cells, within which the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell migration, local invasion and tumour development. In this context, Ca2+ is considered a fundamental intracellular tool in the regulation of the dynamics and complexity of migration and metastasis. In this dissertation, the literature is presented and discussed at the forefront of Ca2+ between organelles signalling regarding cell migration, metastasis and cancer progression, with a special focus on the channels that regulate Ca2+ flow.

Date of Award	2021
Original language	Portuguese
Supervisor	Nuno Saraiva (Supervisor)