SAM68 also cooperates with scaffold/matrix-associated region-binding protein 1 (SMAR1); phosphorylation of SMAR1 by ERK-1/2 kinase or downregulation of SMAR1 itself lead to increased acetylation of SAM68, which in turn affects the alternative splicing of the CD44 mRNA and thereby modulates cancer metastasis [194]. The gene discussed is CD44; the disease is cancer.