Interrogating Lkb1 function | Nature Cell Biology

Access through your institution Buy or subscribe The kinase Lkb1 regulates cell polarity and is mutated or deleted in many cancers. Lkb1 substrates include the kinase AMPK, but whether AMPK

is a relevant Lkb1 target in polarity and tumorigenesis remains unclear. Mellman and colleagues now use elegant chemical genetics approaches to address this issue (_J. Cell Biol._ 199,

1117–1130; 2012). The authors generated a knock-in mouse expressing an analogue-sensitive kinase allele (ASKA) of Lkb1; this strategy enables Lkb1 to be inhibited by the compound 1NMPP1.

Mice homozygous for mutant Lkb1 were embryonic lethal, but embryonic tissues harvested from these mice could be used for _ex vivo_ analyses. Acute Lkb1 inhibition in the lung led to

branching defects but not loss of apical–basal polarity. Pancreatic explants similarly retained apical–basal polarity following Lkb1 inhibition, but formed dynamic cysts lined with rapidly

proliferating epithelial cells. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution Subscribe to this journal Receive 12

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Emily J. Chenette View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE

Chenette, E. Interrogating Lkb1 function. _Nat Cell Biol_ 15, 141 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb2692 Download citation * Published: 01 February 2013 * Issue Date: February 2013 * DOI:

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