Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Author Spotlight: A Selective Luciferase-Based Assay for Monitoring ATG4B 27 Activity in Cells
09:51

Author Spotlight: A Selective Luciferase-Based Assay for Monitoring ATG4B 27 Activity in Cells

Published on: June 30, 2023

1.6K

In Search of a Cure for Proteostasis-Addicted Cancer: A AAA Target Revealed

Di Xia1, Yihong Ye2

  • 1Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Cancer Cell
|November 12, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells rely on protein homeostasis (proteostasis) for survival. A new inhibitor targeting a key proteostasis ATPase shows anti-cancer activity by disrupting this essential network.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Tumorigenesis is linked to disrupted protein homeostasis (proteostasis).
  • Cancer cells exhibit an unbalanced proteostasis network, increasing their vulnerability.
  • Protein quality control (PQC) regulators are potential therapeutic targets in cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the anti-cancer potential of a novel inhibitor class.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of targeting a multi-functional ATPase crucial for proteostasis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a new class of inhibitor.
  • Focused on a multi-functional ATPase essential for proteostasis maintenance.
  • Investigated anti-cancer activity in the context of PQC regulation.

Main Results:

  • The study identified a new class of anti-cancer agent.
  • The inhibitor targets a critical ATPase involved in proteostasis.
  • Demonstrated anti-cancer activity by interfering with protein quality control.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting essential proteostasis ATPase with novel inhibitors is a promising anti-cancer strategy.
  • Disrupting protein homeostasis can selectively harm cancer cells.
  • This approach offers a new avenue for cancer therapy development.

More Related Videos

Detecting Anastasis In Vivo by CaspaseTracker Biosensor20:16

Detecting Anastasis In Vivo by CaspaseTracker Biosensor

Published on: February 1, 2018

9.8K
Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants07:38

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants

Published on: June 6, 2025

909

Related Concept Videos

Allosteric Proteins-ATCase01:19

Allosteric Proteins-ATCase

Binding sites linkages can regulate a protein's function.  For example, enzyme activity is often regulated through a feedback mechanism where the end product of the biochemical process serves as an inhibitor.
Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the condensation of L-aspartate and carbamoyl phosphate to  N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate. This reaction is the first step in pyrimidine biosynthesis. UTP and CTP, the end products of the pyrimidine synthesis...
6.9K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
5.1K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

1.7K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
7.4K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

4.3K
DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
10.4K