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The research team of Gene Center of Central Research Institute recently find that RBP2 will directly combine with special gene section, and scholars consider this may be the key factor for causing cancer. This research was jointly conducted by Cai Mingdao, the specially invited researcher of Gene Center of Central Research Institute, and Ruan Lirong, the assistant researcher, and their research achievement has been recently published on the “Structure and Molecular Biology”, series journal of “Science”.
DNA is externally covered with “group protein”, a bead chain structure, which is very important for modifying DNA transcription; methyl likes “sign” on group protein, and RBP2 is a decorative ferment of group protein, and will seek for chance to attach, decorate group protein, and remove methyls on group protein to affect DNA transcription, Ruan Lirong explained.
The research of Gene Center finds that special gene series “CCGCCC” carry the signal of RBP2, and RBP2 can directly identify and combine. It finds that RBP2 contains an area “ARID”, which can be combined with DNA. Cai Mingdao utilized NMR technology to set up the 3D structure of ARID and find four important amino acids combining with DNA. The research team concludes that RBP2 will lose the function of modifying DNA transcription and cannot remove methyl if losing these four amino acids.
Ruan Lirong expressed, common normal cells seldom carry RBP2; if RBP2 excessively performs, it will remove the marked “methyl” attracting “cancer-restraining protein”, so the “cancer-restraining protein” cannot perform and thus canceration will occur. The research team also finds that many cancer cells including lung cancer have excessive RBP2.
Cai Mingdao said, it is known that RBP2 is truly relating to cancer at present. But whether RBP2 is a carcinogenic factor? Ruan Lirong considered needing further test for verification. If confirmation, it can further seek for inhibiter of RBP2 to develop new anticancer drugs.
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