Flot1, also known as Flotillin-1, is a scaffold protein of lipid rafts. It is involved in several biological processes such as lipid raft protein-dependent or clathrin-independent endocytosis, formation of hippocampal synapses, and vesicular trafficking. It participates in important signaling pathways like the ERK and Erk/Akt signaling pathways, and is crucial for various cellular functions [2,4]. Genetic models are valuable for studying Flot1's functions.

In cancer research, knockdown of Flot1 in gastric cancer cells decreases cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, indicating its role in promoting gastric cancer progression through the BCAR1/ERK signaling pathway [1]. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), knockdown of Flot1 promotes cell death in vitro and inhibits malignant cell engraftment in vivo by triggering apoptosis and pyroptosis, suggesting it as a potential target for AML treatment [3]. In lung adenocarcinoma, FLOT1 promotes cell growth, invasion, migration, and inhibits apoptosis, and induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition and modulates the cell cycle by activating the Erk/Akt signaling pathway [4]. In esophageal cancer, interfering with the expression of Circ_0003855 can decrease FLOT1 expression and inhibit the activity of cancer cells [5].

In conclusion, Flot1 is a significant protein involved in multiple biological processes, especially in lipid raft-related functions and signal transduction. The findings from gene knockdown studies in cancer models highlight its importance in cancer development, offering potential therapeutic targets for various cancers. These model-based research efforts enhance our understanding of Flot1's role in disease-related biological mechanisms.

References:

1. Wang, Ran, Huang, Wei, Cai, Kaimei, Chen, Zhikang, Lai, Chen. 2023. FLOT1 promotes gastric cancer progression and metastasis through BCAR1/ERK signaling. In International journal of biological sciences, 19, 5104-5119. doi:10.7150/ijbs.82606. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37928269/

2. Zhan, Ziqing, Ye, Meng, Jin, Xiaofeng. 2023. The roles of FLOT1 in human diseases (Review). In Molecular medicine reports, 28, . doi:10.3892/mmr.2023.13099. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37772385/

3. Mao, Shihui, Qian, Yu, Wei, Wenwen, Sun, Jie, Jin, Jie. 2023. FLOT1 knockdown inhibits growth of AML cells through triggering apoptosis and pyroptosis. In Annals of hematology, 102, 583-595. doi:10.1007/s00277-023-05103-x. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36697954/

4. Zhang, Louqian, Mao, Yuan, Mao, Qixing, Xu, Lin, Wang, Jun. 2019. FLOT1 promotes tumor development, induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and modulates the cell cycle by regulating the Erk/Akt signaling pathway in lung adenocarcinoma. In Thoracic cancer, 10, 909-917. doi:10.1111/1759-7714.13027. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30838797/

5. Tian, Jingjing, Hu, Xibao, Zhang, Xinrong. 2024. Circ_0003855 involvement of esophageal cancer progression through miR-622/FLOT1. In Oncology research, 32, 925-931. doi:10.32604/or.2023.042447. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38686057/