Functional role of PEBP1/RKIP in cellular processes

PEBPs (PhosphatidylEthanolamine Binding Proteins) form a protein family widely present in the living world. In humans, PEBP1 is also named RKIP (Raf Kinase Inhibitory protein) due to its role as an inhibitor of Raf1. The many studies carried out on human PEBP1 has demonstrated its function as a metastasis suppressor in cancer and also its implication in Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and nephropathies. PEBP1 was described to inhibit numerous kinases implicated in various signaling pathways and to be involved in many cellular processes. Among the cellular processes modulated by PEBP1 are signal transduction, inflammation, cell cycle, proliferation, adhesion, differentiation, apoptosis, autophagy, circadian rhythm and mitotic spindle checkpoint. The aim of this review is to highlight the molecular systems that are common to all these cellular mechanisms in order to decipher the specific role of PEBP1. This publication should be useful for researchers, physicians and students concerned by the molecular mechanisms that lead up to major pathologies such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.