Zyxin is upregulated in the nucleus by thymosin β4 in SiHa cells

Thymosin β4 is a 43-amino acid actin-binding protein that promotes cell migration and is important in angiogenesis, wound healing, and tumor metastasis. We searched for genes upregulated by thymosin β4 and identified zyxin as increased in SiHa cells in the presence of exogenously added thymosin β4 and when thymosin β4 is overexpressed using adenoviral vectors. Both zyxin and thymosin β4 show increased localization in the nucleus. We conclude that thymosin β4 may exert some of its migration promoting activity via increased zyxin expression.