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Diverse functional roles of reactive cysteines
Nicholas J Pace1, Eranthie Weerapana
1Department of Chemistry, Boston College , Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA.
ACS Chemical Biology
|November 21, 2012
Summary
Functional cysteines in proteins are crucial for catalysis and regulation, especially in cancer. Their reactivity offers opportunities for developing novel cancer drugs and imaging agents targeting cysteine modifications.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cysteine residues are vital for protein function, participating in catalysis, regulation, and metal binding across various protein classes.
- Functional cysteines are implicated in numerous cellular processes, including those relevant to cancer development and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the diverse roles of cysteine residues in protein function.
- To highlight cysteine-mediated activities in cancer.
- To explore the therapeutic and diagnostic potential of targeting cysteine-reactive small molecules in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on select examples of cysteine function.
- Analysis of cysteine's role in protein catalysis and regulation.
- Discussion of small molecules targeting cysteine for cancer treatment and diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Cysteine residues perform critical roles in enzymatic catalysis and allosteric regulation.
- Cysteine modifications are implicated in various cancers.
- Cysteine-reactive small molecules show promise as anticancer drugs and imaging agents.
Conclusions:
- Cysteine residues are versatile functional amino acids with significant roles in biological systems, particularly in cancer.
- Targeting cysteine's unique reactivity with small molecules presents a promising strategy for cancer therapy and diagnostics.
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