Described novel regulator of the activity of a protein inactive in over 50% of human tumours
Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) have discovered the interaction between HERC2 protein with p53 protein that is inactivated in more than half of human tumours. The study results were published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) have discovered the interaction between HERC2 protein with p53 protein that is inactivated in more than half of human tumours. The study results were published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
P53 protein regulates the expression of genes involved in important cellular processes such as cell proliferation. The team led by José Luis Rosa, lecturer from the Department of Physiological Sciences II at the Faculty of Medicine of UB and member of IDIBELL Growth Factors and Cell Differentiation Research Group, studies the molecular mechanisms of HERC family proteins. These proteins are ubiquitin ligases that regulate the function of other proteins. José Luis Rosa explains that “in recent years, it has been shown that alterations in HERC family proteins are associated with various pathologies including ataxia, mental retardation and cancer”.