Functional analysis demonstrated that SHARPIN promoted melanoma migration and invasion by regulating Ras-associated protein-1(Rap1) and its downstream pathways, including p38 and JNK/c-Jun.
SHARPIN also promoted p38 signalling independent of TAK1 expression, by which overexpression of SHARPIN induced cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, enhanced migration and invasion of MyLa2059.
Suppression of SHARPIN impaired cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and invasion and reduced levels of MMP-9 in prostate cancer cells and reduced the size of metastatic lung tumors induced by these cells in mice.