NM23H1

NM23H1, also known as NME1 or NDR1, is a gene that encodes a protein involved in nucleoside diphosphate metabolism. This protein is a ubiquitous enzyme that catalyzes the phosphorylation of nucleoside diphosphates to their corresponding nucleoside triphosphates. These triphosphates are essential building blocks for DNA and RNA synthesis. The NM23H1 protein has also been recognized for its role as a metastasis suppressor. In cancer research, its reduced expression has been correlated with increased metastatic potential and poorer prognosis in various tumor types. The precise mechanisms by which NM23H1 suppresses metastasis are still under investigation but are thought to involve its enzymatic activity, its interactions with other cellular proteins, and its influence on cellular signaling pathways that regulate cell motility, invasion, and angiogenesis. Mutations in the NM23H1 gene have been associated with certain developmental disorders, although this is a less common area of research compared to its role in cancer. Studies have explored NM23H1 as a potential therapeutic target, with efforts focused on restoring its expression or activity in cancer cells to inhibit metastasis.