MTA1 (metastasis-associated protein 1) is a component of the NURD (nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylation) complex, which is associated with ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling and histone deacetylase activity. tructurally, MTA1 contains a single SH3-binding motif and a zinc finger domain, along with a region similar to the co-repressor protein N-Cor. Overexpression of MTA1 correlates with tumor invasion and metastasis in various carcinomas including colorectal,gastrointestinal and breast carcinomas. Elevation of MTA1 levels in these tumors appears to enhance the metastases to lymph nodes, increase mammary cell motility and potentiate growth, and therefore may be an indicator for assessing the potential malignancies of various tumors.
