Scinderin (SCIN)

SCIN is a Ca(2+)-dependent actin-severing and -capping protein.Overexpression of SCIN in the MEG-01 megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line induced differentiation, including decreased cell proliferation, polyploidization, and apoptosis, with release of platelet-like particles. These changes were associated with a decrease in filamentous actin (F-actin), and a further decrease in F-actin was observed following ionophore-induced calcium mobilization. The RAF/MEK/ERK pathway was also activated in these cells. Unlike the parental MEG-01 cell line, MEG-01 cells overexpressing SCIN were unable to induce tumor formation in nude mice. The small tumors that formed from SCIN-expressing MEG-01 cells showed apoptotic nuclei surrounded by large numbers of platelet-like particles.