Uncovering IGF2BP3: The Master Switch of Leukaemia's Survival
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center have found IGF2BP3, a protein that links metabolic rewiring and RNA regulation in leukaemia cells. This discovery positions IGF2BP3 as a potential target for therapies disrupting energy and survival pathways in cancer, with implications for various cancers beyond leukaemia.
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Scientists at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Centre have identified a pivotal protein, IGF2BP3, which intertwines metabolic reprogramming with RNA modification in leukaemia cells. This protein incites cancer cells to opt for a fast, albeit inefficient, energy pathway, while also engineering RNA to synthesize survival-essential proteins.
This breakthrough positions IGF2BP3 as a 'master switch' in leukaemia, bridging processes traditionally thought to operate independently. Lead researcher Dr. Dinesh Rao highlights how this newfound connection could open avenues for treatments aimed at severing the energy and survival lifelines of cancer cells.
Dr. Rao's team unraveled these insights using a Seahorse assay, demonstrating that without IGF2BP3, leukaemia cells abandon glycolysis, a sugar breakdown path they favor for rapid division. These discoveries could inform therapies against cancers leveraging similar paths, with IGF2BP3 also serving as a potential biomarker.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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