The story of the SOX genes: for better or for worse…

The SOX genes encode a group of transcription factors showing diverse expression patterns during de- velopment and acting as key regulators of diverse cellular processes. SOX transcription factors are in- volved in multiple events from the maintaining of stem cells pluripotency and cell fate decision to driving terminal differentiation of cells into specialized cell types. During adulthood SOX transcription factors control various physiological processes. Mutations in SOX genes have been associated with severe clin- ical disorders, while deregulation of their expressions cause a broad range of pathological condition. Ac- cumulating evidence suggests that SOX proteins act as oncogenes and recent evidence points toward pro-proliferative, pro-survival and/or anti-differentiation roles of the SOX proteins. The results of long-term research of the structure, regulation of expression and the function of selected SOX genes will be presented. It will include data obtained by studying the roles of SOX genes in in vitro neural differentiation of pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cells, as well as interaction of SOX transcrip- tion factors with signalling pathways active during neurogenesis and oncogenesis. Special focus will be made on ongoing research focused on the roles of SOX genes in promotion of malignant phenotype of cancer cells and maintaining of cancer stem cells. The interplay of SOX transcription factors and mi- croRNAs in the brain under physiological and pathological conditions, along with crosstalk between SOX genes and long non-coding RNAs in glioblastoma will be discussed. The role of SOX transcription factors in ageing and age-related diseases will be outlined.