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Related Experiment Video

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Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts

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Aberrant phase separation and cancer.

Kenzui Taniue^1,2, Nobuyoshi Akimitsu¹

¹Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, Japan.

The FEBS Journal

|February 14, 2021

Summary

Biomolecular condensates, formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), can become abnormal in cancer due to gene mutations. Targeting these aberrant condensates offers new therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.

Keywords:

drug targeting phase separation and transition fusion protein low-complexity regions oncogenic mutation phase separation/transition signal transduction transcription

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biochemistry
Cancer Biology

Background:

Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles and membraneless organelles called biomolecular condensates.
Biomolecular condensates concentrate proteins and RNA, facilitating diverse cellular processes.
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) drives condensate formation via multivalent interactions, leading to liquid-liquid phase transitions (LLPT).

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent findings on abnormal biomolecular condensates and aggregation in cancer.
To explore the role of aberrant LLPS and LLPT in cancer development driven by genetic alterations.
To discuss regulatory mechanisms and potential drug targets for aberrant LLPS/LLPT in cancer.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent findings on biomolecular condensates in cancer.
Analysis of mechanisms driving aberrant LLPS and LLPT in cancer-related proteins.
Identification of potential therapeutic strategies targeting aberrant condensate formation.

Main Results:

Gene mutations and fusions can lead to aberrant LLPS and LLPT of cancer-related proteins.
Dysregulation of LLPS/LLPT results in abnormal condensate and amyloid formation, contributing to tumorigenesis.
Aberrant condensate formation is linked to various human diseases, including cancer and neurodegeneration.

Conclusions:

Understanding aberrant LLPS and LLPT in cancer is crucial for developing novel therapeutic approaches.
Targeting the regulatory mechanisms of aberrant condensate formation presents a promising avenue for cancer drug development.
Further research into the molecular events governing condensate formation in tumors can inform future treatment strategies.