Image: Salk Institute
The scientists of the Salk Institute in the U.S. found that drugs targeting the protein CREB, which regulates the activity of specific genes that prevent tumor growth that allows us to deal with intractable types of cancer. About it reported in a press release on MedicalXpress.
CREB is a transcription factor that binds to certain DNA sequences called CRE. CRE, in turn, activate or deactivate a gene, controlling, thus, the synthesis of proteins. Although it is known that CREB is involved in the development of cancer, until recently it was not clear how he is associated with malignant diseases.
Scientists have found that CREB and CRTC2 transcriptional coactivator observed in the tissues of non-small cell lung cancer. Typically, the antitumor gene LKB1 inhibits CREB, however, in patients with malignant tumors, this gene is not working due to a mutation. CRTC2 contributes to the activation of other cancer-causing genes, including ID1.
The researchers also identified medicines that will help to suppress CREB. Some of these medications already used to fight diabetes.
Video, photo All from Russia.