CRN2 enhances the invasiveness of glioblastoma cells

Background. Movement of tumor cells involves dynamic remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton, which is regulated by actin binding proteins, such as CRN2 (synonyms: coronin 1C, coronin 3). In vitro, CRN2 participates in secretion, matrix degradation, protrusion formation, and cell migration. Furthermore, expression of CRN2 correlates with the malignant phenotype of human diffuse gliomas. CRN2’s effects on actin polymerization and F-actin bundling are abolished by protein kinase 2 (CK2) dependent phosphorylation at serine 463. Methods. We generated human U373 glioblastoma cell lines with knock-down of CRN2 or over-expression of CRN2 variants and studied their behavior in vitro and ex vivo in organotypic brain slice cultures. Results. CRN2 over-expression and expression of th