SMYD2 regulates breast cancer cells motility and metastasis spreading through methylation of BCAR3 and recruitment of FMNLs to protrusive membrane structures such as lamellipodia. FMNLs localization at nascent lamellipodia enables nucleation and elongation of actin filaments and generates the force required for cell migration. Hence, upregulation of the SMYD2-BCAR3-FMNLs pathway, commonly observed in the malignant breast cancer cell, promotes metastatic spread. Pharmacological inhibition of SMYD2 enzymatic activity in pre-clinical in vivo animal models can efficiently prevents breast cancer’s ability to metastasize. In all box plots, the center line indicates the median, the box marks the 75th and 25th percentiles and whiskers: min. to max. values.
