MUC16

MUC16, also known as CA-125 (cancer agent 125 or carcinoma antigen 125), is a cell surface protein that is actively expressed in corneal and conjunctival epithelia. It is a heavily N-glycosylated large membrane-associated mucin protein with over 22000 amino acids and structurally, it is divided into a Ser/Thr-rich N-terminal domain, a C-terminal transmembrane contain domain, and a highly repetitive middle domain that is comprised of more than 60 partially conserved tandem repeats. The hydrophilicity of MUC16 created by its glycans enables MUC16 to provide a lubricating barrier against infectious agents and particles while its cytoplasmic tail has also been indicated to bind members of the ERM protein family and interact with cytoskeleton.

The overexpression of MUC16 has been associated with several carcinomas, especially ovarian carcinomas and ovarian low malignant potential (LMP) tumors. MUC16 has served as a biomarker for ovarian carcinoma for a long time and it is believed to facilitate cancer development by mechanisms including immune system evasion, metastatic invasion, induced motility, and chemotherapy resistance. Thus, it is an important therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Entrez Gene ID: 94025
UniProt ID: Q8WXI7