Background
ADCK2 is a member of the AarF domain-containing kinase family, which consists of five members, and has been shown to play a role in CoQ metabolism. However, ADCKs have also been connected to cancer cell survival, proliferation and motility. In this study, we investigated the role of ADCK2 in melanoma.
Conclusion
ADCK2 affects melanoma cell motility, most probably via MYL6. Our results allow the conclusion that ADCK2 could act as a tumor suppressor in melanoma.
Methods
The effect of ADCK2 on melanoma cell motility was evaluated by a scratch assay and a transwell invasion assay upon siRNA-mediated knockdown or stable overexpression of ADCK2.
Results
We found that high levels of intratumoral ADCK2 and MYL6 are associated with a higher survival rate in melanoma patients. Knocking down ADCK2 resulted in enhanced cell migration of melanoma cells. Moreover, ADCK2-knockdown cells adopted a more dedifferentiated phenotype. A gene expression array revealed that the expression of ADCK2 correlated with the expressions of MYL6 and RAB2A. Knocking down MYL6 in ADCK2-overexpressing cells could abrogate the effect of ADCK2 overexpression and thus confirm the functional connection between ADCK2 and MYL6.