This gene encodes a member of the fascin family of actin-binding proteins. Fascin proteins organize F-actin into parallel bundles, and are required for the formation of actin-based cellular protrusions. The encoded protein plays a critical role in cell migration, motility, adhesion and cellular interactions. Expression of this gene is known to be regulated by several microRNAs, and overexpression of this gene may play a role in the metastasis of multiple types of cancer by increasing cell motility. Expression of this gene is also a marker for Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's lymphoma. A pseudogene of this gene is located on the long arm of chromosome 15. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2011],
Function:
Disease:Marks and mediates breast cancer metastasis to the lungs. FSCN1 is not functionally validated but achieves the highest statistical significance (P less than 0.000001). Those subjects expressing the lung metastasis signature have a significantly poorer lung metastasis-free survival, but not bone metastasis-free survival, compared to subjects without the signature.,Function:Organizes filamentous actin into bundles with a minimum of 4.1:1 actin/fascin ratio. Probably involved in the assembly of actin filament bundles present in microspikes, membrane ruffles, and stress fibers.,PTM:Phosphorylation on Ser-39 inhibits the actin-binding ability of fascin.,similarity:Belongs to the fascin family.,subunit:Associates with beta-catenin.,tissue specificity:Ubiquitous.,