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Modulation of k-Ras signaling by natural products

S B Bharate1, B Singh, R A Vishwakarma

  • 1Medicinal Chemistry Division, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Jammu, India. sbharate@iiim.ac.in

Current Medicinal Chemistry
|March 15, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Natural products can target Ras protein modifications, crucial for cancer growth. This review explores marine and terrestrial compounds as potential anticancer therapeutics by modulating these key enzymes.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Ras proteins are vital in cancer progression, regulating cell proliferation, survival, and migration.
  • These proteins require specific post-translational lipid modifications for membrane localization and function.
  • Enzymes like FTase, GGTase-I, GGTase-II, Rce-1, and ICMT are critical for Ras modification and are potential anticancer targets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review natural products that modulate Ras post-translational modification enzymes.
  • To highlight the potential of these natural products as anticancer agents.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of natural products targeting Ras post-translational modifications.
  • Analysis of compounds from terrestrial and marine sources.

Main Results:

  • 157 natural products with anticancer potential were identified.
  • These compounds modulate key enzymes involved in Ras prenylation, proteolysis, and methylation.
  • The review covers 141 corresponding references.

Conclusions:

  • Natural products offer a promising avenue for developing novel anticancer therapeutics targeting Ras pathways.
  • Modulation of Ras post-translational modifications by natural compounds presents a viable strategy for cancer treatment.

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