The Role of a Novel Protease NES1 in Breast Cancer.
Abstract
The proposed studies aim to understand the biochemical mechanism of conversion of normal mammary epithelial cells (MECs) into tumorous cells. We have identified a novel serine protease-like gene NES 1 that is specifically expressed in MECs but not in fibroblast cells, NES 1 was isolated by virtue of its markedly reduced expression in a radiation-transformed MEC compared to its normal parent cell. NES 1 showed reduced or no expression in a panel of mammary tumor cell lines. Furthermore, NES 1 niRNA expression is cell cycle-regulated. NES 1 is unique in that it is a protease that is down- regulated during tumorigenesis. Together, these features suggest that NES 1 plays a role in a pathway that negatively regulates MEC growth. It is likely that NES 1 either inactivates a positive regulator of cell proliferation or it generates an active form of a negative growth regulator through selective cleavage of an inactive form. This grant proposal represents a comprehensive structural and functional characterization of NES 1 to address this hypothesis. In the long run, identification of specific targets of oncogenic processes and delineation of their precise function should allow rational design of therapeutic agents, and offer reagents for diagnosis or monitoring of treatment of breast cancer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA334324
Entities
People
- Vimla Band