Double agent
A protein associated with some cancers acts
in the energy-producing organelles of the cell
called mitochondria.
The protein, STAT3, regulates gene
expression. It is activated by the addition
of a phosphate group, which sends the
protein into the nucleus. Transformation
of healthy cells into cancerous ones by the
small protein Ras is inhibited by an absence
of normal STAT3. But David Levy of New
York University School of Medicine and his
colleagues found that STAT3 mutants that
cannot accept the phosphate or cannot bind to
DNA still allow Ras to transform cells.
Surprisingly, the researchers found
that STAT3 is active in mitochondrial
metabolism, and during transformation
mediates metabolic changes necessary for
cancers to grow.
0 comments:
Post a Comment