Changes to the RUNX3 protein may promote the progression of cancer -
New study also identified a potential way to increase the effectiveness of therapy cancer
scientists at the Singapore science cancer Institute (CSI Singapore) at the national University of Singapore (NUS) found that changes in a protein called RUNX3 can promote progress cancer. The results of the study were published in the prestigious journal of the National Instruments Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in June 2016.
The research team, led by Professor Yoshiaki Ito, senior principal researcher CSI in Singapore, found that phosphorylation of the modification called made RUNX3 promotes the progression of cancer by allowing cell division. uncontrolled cell division in the body is a process by which tumors form and is therefore a characteristic of cancer. RUNX3 is a tumor suppressor gene that prevents the formation of tumors by binding to DNA.
The phosphorylation or addition of a phosphate group to a molecule, is carried out by an enzyme called Aurora kinase, which was observed to be present at abnormally high levels of certain cancers. Phosphorylation prevents RUNX3 of DNA binding, which RUNX3 move to centrosomes, organelles that control the beginning of cell division.
"This study identifies a new post-translational modification in RUNX3, which provides RUNX3 with a novel role in regulating cell division. Our results suggest that frequent overexpression of Aurora kinase in cancer can reduce the RUNX3 transcription activity, leading to cell division and tumor formation. understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Aurora kinase overexpressing tumors will help in the design of the targeted cancer therapy and personalized, "said Dr. Linda Chuang, senior research scientist at the CSI Singapore, who is the first author of the study.
"Unlike other changes arising from changes in the DNA itself or RUNX3 how DNA is read, phosphorylation not accompanied by changes in DNA and is therefore undetectable level genetics. Since modifications such as phosphorylation may be impermanent and reversible, the clinical implications are far reaching. Moving forward, the team is looking at ways to assess the feasibility of improving RUNX the removal of the tumor or the inhibition of the mitotic RUNX function to quickly kill the proliferation of cancer cells, "said Professor Ito.
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