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Updated: May 7, 2026
Enrichment and Characterization of the Tumor Immune and Non-immune Microenvironments in Established Subcutaneous Murine Tumors
Published on: June 7, 2018
Structural evaluation and analyses of tumor differentiation factor
Urmi Roy1, Alisa G Woods, Izabela Sokolowska
1Structural Biology Unit, Biochemistry and Proteomics Group, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY, 13699-5810, USA.
Abstract:
Tumor differentiation factor (TDF) is a protein produced by the pituitary and secreted into the blood stream. The mechanism of its action has still not been elucidated, although the associated protein receptor was identified. Furthermore, the TDF protein does not have any homology with other known proteins, and the crystal structure of TDF also is not available at this time. To gain some insight into the structure of this rather underexplored protein, we have performed a molecular dynamics simulation of a model TDF structure. The structural stability of this protein is evaluated as a function of time. The time dependent structural changes of four cysteine residues present in this structure also are explored.
Insights
Tumor differentiation factor (TDF) is a pituitary protein. Molecular dynamics simulations explored TDF
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Molecular Dynamics
Background:
- Tumor differentiation factor (TDF) is a pituitary-produced protein with an unelucidated mechanism of action.
- The TDF protein lacks homology with known proteins, and its crystal structure is unavailable.
- The TDF receptor has been identified, but its interaction with TDF remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural properties of the TDF protein.
- To evaluate the structural stability of a model TDF structure over time.
- To explore time-dependent structural changes in TDF's cysteine residues.
Main Methods:
- Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of a model TDF structure.
- Analysis of structural stability as a function of simulation time.
- Examination of the dynamic behavior of four specific cysteine residues within the TDF model.
Main Results:
- The molecular dynamics simulation provided insights into the structural dynamics of TDF.
- The study evaluated the structural stability of the TDF model over the simulated period.
- Time-dependent structural changes, particularly involving cysteine residues, were observed and analyzed.
Conclusions:
- Molecular dynamics simulations are a valuable tool for studying the structure of underexplored proteins like TDF.
- The findings offer preliminary insights into TDF's structural behavior, aiding future research.
- Further investigation is warranted to fully elucidate TDF's structure-function relationship and mechanism of action.
