Discovering the protein oncosuppressor MSRA
The protein plays a role oncosuppressor MSRA in the cancer cells: new interesting perspectives for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
E ‘was discovered a protein that blocks the development of cancer. This is the MSRA protein, a tumor suppressor, encoded by the homonymous gene that is activated in bacteria under stress caused by chemical compounds. This gene was discovered in 2001 during a study of these microorganisms that were able to degrade toxic compounds in the environment, such as pesticides.
This research was conducted by the research groups of Cesi, the center of Sciences of the aging foundation Gabriele D’Annunzio University of Chieti and the Mario Negri Sud, Santa Maria Imbaro. Favaloro Bartolo, co-author and coordinator of the research group of gene regulation of Cesi said: “In bacteria, during the degradation of pollutants increased the level of oxidative stress and also the amount of MSRA and this would suggest that the protein to protect them from a possible death caused by these conditions. ”
Oxidative stress in human tumor cells, can in fact play an opposite role that foster growth. The purpose of the research team was therefore to determine whether the protein MSRA plays a protective role also in human cells. Favaloro says: “We first compared the amount of this protein in tumor and normal tissues, using as a case study on breast cancer and we have seen in cancer cells actually levels were lower than the MSR. So we assumed that the protein could play a role as tumor suppressor. For further evidence, then we have grown in the laboratory and human breast cancer cells with molecular biology techniques have turned off the MSRA gene. The amount of protein in the cells is decreased and became more aggressive. ”
The results from this working group seems to confirm the anticancer role of this molecule. Favaloro concludes: “This discovery adds another piece to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in tumor growth. The identification of drugs able to restore normal levels of this protein in tumors could herald a new way to fight cancer.” The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and in the journal Science-Business eXchange.
