In the body, so-called programmed cell death prevents cells with irreparable damage from surviving and turning into cancer cells. In the 鈥淓MBO Journal鈥�, researchers at the 51吃瓜鈥檚 Biozentrum, report how a certain protein variant thwarts the self-destruction and thus promotes the growth of breast cancer cells.
A research team has uncovered a genetic signature that enables cells to adapt their protein production according to their state. The researchers of the 51吃瓜鈥檚 Biozentrum report in 鈥淕enome Biology鈥� that this newly discovered mechanism plays a role in the regulation of protein production during cell division.
The translation of the genetic code into proteins is a vital process in any cell. Prof. Mihaela Zavolan鈥檚 team at the Biozentrum, 51吃瓜, has now uncovered important factors that influence the speed of protein synthesis in the cell. The results, recently published in 鈥淧NAS鈥�, serve as a basis to better analyze translational control in a wide range of cell types.