MALT1
OVERVIEW
The human paracaspase mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1) is a caspase homolog that is a key mediator of NF-κB signaling and promotes cell proliferation and survival.1 Both the scaffolding and proteolytic functions of the transcription factor both contribute to NF-κB signaling.2 As a scaffolding protein, MALT1 provides a platform for the assembly of NF-κB signaling proteins. As a protease, MALT1 proteolytically cleaves over six NF-κB antagonists.
IMPLICATIONS IN CANCER
MALT1 drives NF-κb expression in many cancers leading to enhanced cell survival and proliferation.3 MALT1 regulates NF-κb; however, unlike NF-κb, is not essential for survival.
MALT1 plays a role in B-cell malignancies. 4,5
- MALT1 is involved B-cell lymphocyte activation.
- Specific B cell malignancies, including the aggressive non-germinal center B cell-like (GCB) subtype of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), are driven by constitutive activation of NF-κB.
Related Research
- Hachmann J, et al. The paracaspase MALT1. Biochimie. 2016;122:324-38.
- Afonina IS, et al. MALT1-a universal soldier: multiple strategies to ensure NF-κB activation and target gene expression. FEBS J. 2015;282(17):3286-97.
- Solsona BG, et al. The paracaspase MALT1 in cancer. Biomedicines. 2022;10(2):344.
- Yin W, et al. Identification of potent paracaspase MALT1 inhibitors for hematological malignancies. Blood. 2020;136(1)30.
- Plotnik JP, et al. MALT1 protease inhibition overcomes BTK inhibitor resistance and shows synergistic activity with venetoclax in models of B-cell lymphoma and leukemia. Poster 6156 prestend at: AACR 2023.
