Transmembrane protein 120B (TMEM120B)

Transmembrane protein 120B (TMEM120B) is a multi-pass transmembrane protein, localized primarily to the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum, composed of six transmembrane domains and a coiled-coil domain at the N-terminus[2][3][5]. It is implicated in adipocyte differentiation and metabolism, where it modulates the expression of key adipogenic genes and may contribute to tissue-specific lipid metabolism[2][5]. In cancer, TMEM120B is upregulated in multiple solid tumors, where it promotes tumor cell proliferation, invasion, maintenance of cancer stemness, and resistance to chemotherapeutic agents like doxorubicin and docetaxel by activating β1-integrin–FAK–TAZ–mTOR signaling pathways and stabilizing the cytoskeletal regulator MYH9 (myosin heavy chain 9)[3]. TMEM120B does not display ion channel activity[2]. Its expression in cancer patients is associated with advanced disease stage and poor prognosis, underscoring its potential as a prognostic biomarker and modulator of chemoresistance, though it is not a currently established direct therapeutic target[3][2][5].

Other names

TMEM120BTransmembrane 120B

TMEM120B overexpression increases resistance to chemotherapeutics (such as doxorubicin and docetaxel) by activating the β1-integrin–FAK–TAZ–mTOR signaling axis[3]. Not a direct drug target, but modulates response to chemotherapy through cellular signaling changes[3]