phosphatase and tensin homolog
Last updated 8 May 2023
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The PTEN gene provides instructions for making an enzyme that is found in almost all tissues in the body. The enzyme acts as a tumour suppressor, which means that it helps regulate cell division by keeping cells from growing and dividing (proliferating) too rapidly or in an uncontrolled way. To function, the PTEN enzyme attaches (binds) to another PTEN enzyme (dimerizes) then binds to the cell membrane. The PTEN enzyme modifies other proteins and fats (lipids) by removing phosphate groups, each of which consists of a cluster of oxygen and phosphorus atoms. Enzymes with this function are called phosphatases.
Normal function
The PTEN gene provides instructions for making an enzyme that is found in almost all tissues in the body. The enzyme acts as a tumour suppressor, which means that it helps regulate cell division by keeping cells from growing and dividing (proliferating) too rapidly or in an uncontrolled way. To function, the PTEN enzyme attaches (binds) to another PTEN enzyme (dimerizes) then binds to the cell membrane. The PTEN enzyme modifies other proteins and fats (lipids) by removing phosphate groups, each of which consists of a cluster of oxygen and phosphorus atoms. Enzymes with this function are called phosphatases.
The PTEN enzyme is part of a chemical pathway that signals cells to stop dividing and triggers cells to self-destruct through a process called apoptosis. Evidence suggests that this enzyme also helps control cell movement (migration), the sticking (adhesion) of cells to surrounding tissues, and the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Additionally, it likely plays a role in maintaining the stability of a cell's genetic information. All of these functions help prevent uncontrolled cell proliferation that can lead to the formation of tumours.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
MMAC1
mutated in multiple advanced cancers 1
phosphatase and tensin homolog (mutated in multiple advanced cancers 1)
phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10
protein-tyrosine phosphatase PTEN
PTEN-MMAC1 protein
PTEN1
PTEN_HUMAN
TEP1
TEP1 phosphatase
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Further reading and references
- phosphatase and tensin homolog; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Bubien V, Bonnet F, Brouste V, Hoppe S, Barouk-Simonet E, David A, Edery P, Bottani A, Layet V, Caron O, Gilbert-Dussardier B, Delnatte C, Dugast C, Fricker JP, Bonneau D, Sevenet N, Longy M, Caux F; French Cowden Disease Network. High cumulative risks of cancer in patients with PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome. J Med Genet. 2013 Apr;50(4):255-63. doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2012-101339. Epub 2013 Jan 18.
- Butler MG, Dasouki MJ, Zhou XP, Talebizadeh Z, Brown M, Takahashi TN, Miles JH, Wang CH, Stratton R, Pilarski R, Eng C. Subset of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and extreme macrocephaly associated with germline PTEN tumour suppressor gene mutations. J Med Genet. 2005 Apr;42(4):318-21. doi: 10.1136/jmg.2004.024646.
- He X, Ni Y, Wang Y, Romigh T, Eng C. Naturally occurring germline and tumor-associated mutations within the ATP-binding motifs of PTEN lead to oxidative damage of DNA associated with decreased nuclear p53. Hum Mol Genet. 2011 Jan 1;20(1):80-9. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddq434. Epub 2010 Oct 6.
- Kechagioglou P, Papi RM, Provatopoulou X, Kalogera E, Papadimitriou E, Grigoropoulos P, Nonni A, Zografos G, Kyriakidis DA, Gounaris A. Tumor suppressor PTEN in breast cancer: heterozygosity, mutations and protein expression. Anticancer Res. 2014 Mar;34(3):1387-400.
- National Cancer Institute: Genetics of Breast and Gynecologic Cancers (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version
- Pilarski R, Burt R, Kohlman W, Pho L, Shannon KM, Swisher E. Cowden syndrome and the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome: systematic review and revised diagnostic criteria. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013 Nov 6;105(21):1607-16. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djt277. Epub 2013 Oct 17.
- Song MS, Salmena L, Pandolfi PP. The functions and regulation of the PTEN tumour suppressor. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2012 Apr 4;13(5):283-96. doi: 10.1038/nrm3330.
- Tan MH, Mester JL, Ngeow J, Rybicki LA, Orloff MS, Eng C. Lifetime cancer risks in individuals with germline PTEN mutations. Clin Cancer Res. 2012 Jan 15;18(2):400-7. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-2283.
- Tilot AK, Frazier TW 2nd, Eng C. Balancing Proliferation and Connectivity in PTEN-associated Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neurotherapeutics. 2015 Jul;12(3):609-19. doi: 10.1007/s13311-015-0356-8.
- Tramontana T, Yehia L. PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome. 2001 Nov 29 [updated 2026 Jul 28]. In: Adam MP, Bick S, Mirzaa GM, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2026. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1488/
- Yehia L, Eng C. 65 YEARS OF THE DOUBLE HELIX: One gene, many endocrine and metabolic syndromes: PTEN-opathies and precision medicine. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2018 Aug;25(8):T121-T140. doi: 10.1530/ERC-18-0162. Epub 2018 May 23.
- Yehia L, Eng C. PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome: what happens when there is no PTEN germline mutation? Hum Mol Genet. 2020 Oct 20;29(R2):R150-R157. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa127.
- Yehia L, Keel E, Eng C. The Clinical Spectrum of PTEN Mutations. Annu Rev Med. 2020 Jan 27;71:103-116. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-052218-125823. Epub 2019 Aug 21.
- Yehia L, Ngeow J, Eng C. PTEN-opathies: from biological insights to evidence-based precision medicine. J Clin Invest. 2019 Feb 1;129(2):452-464. doi: 10.1172/JCI121277. Epub 2019 Jan 7.
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