PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

The good, the bad and the ugly: The many roles of c-JUN in cancer

2011-06-28
(Press-News.org) The c-JUN protein was initially described in the late 1980s as the mammalian equivalent of a protein responsible for causing cancer in birds. Intense research in a number of labs has subsequently led to a basic understanding of how the protein works. c-JUN is a transcription factor that modifies (phosphorylates) key regulatory proteins in the cell, thereby activating or deactivating them and leading to unregulated cell division and hence cancer. It has also become clear that c-JUN acts not on its own but in conjunction with an array of further proteins that modulate its function.

Karoline Kollmann in the group of Veronika Sexl, now at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, recently discovered an additional activity of c-JUN. Together with her collaboration partners at the Medical University of Vienna and in Madrid, she showed that c-JUN can bind to the promoter of a kinase gene, known as Cdk6, thereby preventing the gene from being inactivated (by means of methylation). The result is increased activity of Cdk6, which further stimulates cell division. c-JUN only activates transcription of Cdk6 in cancer cells, where it makes the disease progress even faster. Kollmann's work was published in April in the journal Blood (2011, Vol. 117, pp. 4065-4075).

The surprising aspect of the discovery is that the "new" function of c-JUN is independent of the protein's normal activity. Kollmann has now added a further twist to the tail with the discovery that c-JUN protects not only the Cdk6 gene – thereby accelerating tumour formation – but also the p16 gene. p16 is a known tumour suppressor gene and its mutation or inactivation is associated with an increased risk of contracting a variety of forms of cancer. By protecting its promoter from inactivation, c-JUN seems to be helping the cells to fight the cancer.

Does this mean that the main villain of the piece is not actually as bad as we thought? Kollmann's response is fairly guarded. "I think it means that the functions of all these proteins are far more complex than we know. They all work together with many other proteins and the overall effect probably depends on a large number of factors. We have a lot more to learn before we can understand what proteins to inhibit to treat the disease."

INFORMATION:

The paper "c-JUN prevents methylation of p16INK4a (and Cdk6): the villain turned bodyguard" by Karoline Kollmann, Gerwin Heller and Veronika Sexl was recently published in Oncotarget (Vol. 2 No. 5).

The scientific article in full text online: http://impactjournals.com/oncotarget/index.php?journal=oncotarget&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=279&path%5B%5D=432

About the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna

The University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna is the only academic and research institution in Austria that focuses on the veterinary sciences. About 1000 employees and 2300 students work on the campus in the north of Vienna, which also houses the animal hospital and various spin-off-companies.

http://www.vetmeduni.ac.at

Scientific contact: Prof Veronika Sexl, E veronika.sexl@vetmeduni.ac.at, T +43 1 25077-2910

Released by: Klaus Wassermann, E klaus.wassermann@vetmeduni.ac.at, T +43 1 25077-1153

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Rockin' tortoises: A 150-year-old new species

Rockin tortoises: A 150-year-old new species
2011-06-28
A team of researchers investigated a desert tortoise from the Southwest USA and northwestern Mexico. What was thought to be a simple problem in species identification turned out to be a very complex matter. Their investigations required forensic genetics and several other methods. In the end, they found it necessary to describe a new species. More than that, the discovery has very important implications for conservation and the development of the deserts of southern California. Since the original description of Agassiz's Land Tortoise, scientifically called Gopherus agassizii, ...

Third-Party Consultants Garner Higher Client Satisfaction than Vendors by 20-Plus Percent

2011-06-28
Whether in a leading or supporting role, third-party firms specializing in a vendor's applications implement them more adeptly than the vendor itself for all but one vendor -- often by a wide margin, according to a new KLAS study. For the report, Clinical Implementation Services: High in Demand But More Specialized in Need, healthcare providers reported contracting out implementation work to 30 different companies, from smaller boutique firms to the software vendors themselves. Every vendor, except for Epic, was outstripped by third-parties specializing in the vendors' ...

Florence & the Machine Play to Sold-Out Crowd at Greek Theatre

2011-06-28
At their largest US show to date, Florence & the Machine debuted new music to a sold-out Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA (produced under the direction of Another Planet Entertainment). Playing under the stars to a capacity crowd, the band celebrated their debut album, Lungs (released 2009), with a 90-minute set that set the stage for a victory lap across America. The band reveled in the moment, clearly excited to deliver fresh material. What Water Gave Me offered the audience insight into the band's creative process as they flesh out ideas for a new release. Highlighted ...

Lack of empathy following traumatic brain injury linked to reduced responsiveness to anger

2011-06-28
Milan, Italy, 28 June 2011 – Egocentric, self-centred, and insensitive to the needs of others: these social problems often arise in people with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and have been attributed in part to a loss of emotional empathy, the capacity to recognise and understand the emotions of other people. Given that traumatic brain injuries are becoming more common, and resulting empathy deficits can have negative repercussions on social functioning and quality of life, it is increasingly important to understand the processes that shape emotional empathy. A new ...

Biocides that attack only insects

2011-06-28
Biocides turn out to be less toxic for the environment if they are subjected to microencapsulation, due to the fact that this process forms shell(s) for the substance. This is the conclusion of chemist Ms Mariluz Alonso in a thesis defended at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). In this research, she chose a number of biocides and other complementary substances, seeking a micro-encapsulation which, besides being compatible with the environment, is more soluble in water, more manageable for the operator, with better conditions of conservation, and effective against ...

World record: The highest magnetic fields are created in Dresden

2011-06-28
On June 22, 2011, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf set a new world record for magnetic fields with 91.4 teslas. To reach this record, Sergei Zherlitsyn and his colleagues at the High Magnetic Field Laboratory Dresden (HLD) developed a coil weighing about 200 kilograms in which electric current create the giant magnetic field – for a period of a few milliseconds. The coil survived the experiment unscathed. "With this record, we're not really that interested in reaching top field values, but instead in using it for research in materials science," explains Joachim ...

Luxury Lingerie Retailer Journelle to Give Away a Year Supply of Designer Intimates

Luxury Lingerie Retailer Journelle to Give Away a Year Supply of Designer Intimates
2011-06-28
Designer lingerie seller Journelle, Inc. has launched a Facebook contest that awards the winner with $1,200 worth of lingerie. To be eligible to win Journelle's "Calendar Girl" sweepstakes and receive $100 worth of fine lingerie every month for a year, contestants must complete an entry form with her name, date of birth, e-mail address, telephone number, and click on Journelle's "Like" button on Facebook . Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. The contest ends at midnight on July 4, 2011. Purchases from a Journelle store are not required for ...

New measurement important complement to GI

2011-06-28
"White pasta is one example of a product which in some cases has received a bad reputation because of a high GI. However, white pasta produces just as good a blood glucose response as wholewheat pasta", says Liza Rosén, doctor in applied nutrition at Lund University in Sweden. The reason why wheat pasta has sometimes been assigned a confusingly high value is that GI only considers the entire area under the blood sugar curve. In contrast to what many believe, GI does not take fluctuations in blood sugar into account. This puts foods with a long and fairly low curve at ...

Model finds optimal fiber optic network connections 10,000 times more quickly

2011-06-28
Designing fiber optic networks involves finding the most efficient way to connect phones and computers that are in different places – a costly and time-consuming process. Now researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a model that can find optimal connections 10,000 times more quickly, using less computing power to solve the problem. "Problems that used to take days to solve can now be solved in just a few seconds," says Dr. George Rouskas, computer science professor at NC State and author of a paper describing the new method. The model could solve ...

Will new drugs block hepatitis C virus in its tracks?

2011-06-28
Targeted multi-drug treatments for hepatitis C patients that could stop the virus in its tracks have come a step closer, thanks to researchers at the University of Leeds, UK. The study by Dr Stephen Griffin and colleagues, published in the journal Hepatology, reveals how two prototype small molecule drugs, known as p7 inhibitors, can each attack different parts of the hepatitis C virus. Their findings suggest that p7 inhibitors could be a powerful way of suppressing hepatitis C, when used together with the latest generation of 'direct-acting' drugs. More than 170 million ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

AI chatbots inconsistent in answering questions about suicide

More efficient and reliable SiC devices for a greener future

Two thirds of reproductive-aged women have at least one modifiable risk factor for birth defects, study reveals

Boosting the neuroglia as a therapeutic strategy for brain disorders

Computational neurogenomics revolution unlocks personalized treatments for brain disorders worldwide

Psychedelics researcher reveals how MDMA and LSD transform human connectedness

Making low-fertility rats fertile by changing the treatment interval

Common painkillers linked to antibiotic resistance

Teachers' depression, anxiety and stress at three times the national norm: new study

Common cold may protect against COVID-19 according to National Jewish Health researchers

New project to improve information retrieval for lifelong learning

New method probes cancer cell messengers that weaken immune system

VCs backed Black founders after BLM – but it didn’t last

A new tool to track infant development, starting at just 16 days old

Generative AI uncovers undetected bird flu exposure risks in Maryland emergency departments

High concentration THC associated with schizophrenia, psychosis, and other unfavorable mental health outcomes

Mediterranean diet with fewer calories and exercise lowers diabetes risk by 31%

Mediterranean diet combined with calorie reduction and exercise may reduce risk of type 2 diabetes by nearly one-third

Researchers to gather next week for 10th Peer Review Congress

Rising deep-ocean oxygen levels opened up new marine habitats, spurred speciation

Melanie Cocco named as next Editor-in-Chief of Biophysical Reports

Polysubstance involvement in youth opioid overdoses increases with age

Brain’s blood flow could change how we understand and treat Alzheimer’s

Mount Sinai scientists create AI-powered tool to improve cancer tissue analysis

Scientists discover how cells use a secret weapon to fight off some pathogens

Research uncovers why IBD causes blood clots—and how to prevent them

Having a sense of purpose may protect against dementia

Trump shooting and Biden exit flipped social media from hostility to solidarity – study

New discovery of wild cereal foraging – a precursor to agriculture – far from the fertile crescent

Flamingos reveal their secret to ageing

[Press-News.org] The good, the bad and the ugly: The many roles of c-JUN in cancer