The rTS signaling pathway as a target for drug development

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Mimicking the Function of Signaling Proteins: Toward Artificial Signal Transduction Therapy
12:24

Mimicking the Function of Signaling Proteins: Toward Artificial Signal Transduction Therapy

Published on: September 29, 2016

Bruce J Dolnick1

  • 1Grace Cancer Drug Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA. bruce.dolnick@roswellpark.org

Clinical Colorectal Cancer
|June 3, 2005
PubMed

Insights

The rTS gene

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The rTS gene produces antisense RNA targeting thymidylate synthase (TS) mRNA.
  • rTS also encodes rTSa and rTSb proteins, with rTSb's role in cancer emerging.
  • Overexpression of rTSb in colon cancer cells suggests a novel regulatory mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the relationship between rTS and TS genes.
  • To explore the effects of rTS RNAs and proteins.
  • To highlight a potential new drug development target.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of rTS and TS gene functions.
  • Analysis of rTSb overexpression effects in colon cancer cell lines.
  • Identification and structural analysis of a TS downregulatory compound.

Main Results:

  • rTSb overexpression leads to TS protein downregulation via unknown signaling molecules.
  • A previously unidentified signaling pathway regulating TS protein levels is indicated.
  • A potential lead compound for drug development targeting TS downregulation has been identified.

Conclusions:

  • The rTSb protein and its associated signaling pathway represent a novel target for cancer drug development.
  • Understanding rTS gene products offers new therapeutic strategies for cancers with altered TS expression.
  • The identified TS downregulatory compound shows promise for further development.

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