About STMN / Stathmin:
Stathmin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the STMN2 gene. Stathmin is a member of the stathmin family of proteins, which are characterized as having a molecular weight of approximately 20-30 kDa, and a molecular mass of about 21.5 kilodaltons.
STMN Function
These family members have been found to regulate G-protein signaling, but they are also implicated in other cellular processes such as endocytosis and cell migration
Stathmin has been implicated in a variety of disease pathways associated with cancer. Stathmin has been connected to cancer cell metastasis or the spreading of disease from one organ or part of the body to another.
Stathmin expression levels are associated with tumor recurrence and growth in prostate cancer cells. Additionally, malignant bladder tumors have been found to overexpress Stathmin.
Strathim Expression
Although Stathmin is widely expressed throughout the body, it has been found to be highly abundant within cells that are associated with blood vessels.
For example, Stathmin is expressed at high levels in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. These cells are referred to as tone-like because they are able to control the diameter of blood vessels, which helps regulate the blood pressure within the body.
Stathmin also has a high abundance in hypoxic cells, which are associated with regions of the body that have less oxygen. Stathmin may play a role in the modulation of cell growth, migration, and invasion.