A new substance that inhibits cancer growth by inducing apoptosis in cancer cells

A research team affiliated with the United Nations Academy of Science and Technology (UNIST) has disclosed a new substance
that inhibits the growth of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis.

The breakthrough was made by Professor Changwook Rhee and his research team from the Department of Biological Sciences at UNIST
.
In this study, the research team reports a novel protein-based nanocomposite that significantly improves the efficacy of tumor necrosis factor-associated apoptosis-induced ligand (TRAIL), a promising anti-cancer drug candidate known
for treating a variety of cancers.

In this study, lumazine synthase protein cage nanoparticles isolated from AaLS were used as multi-ligand display nanoplatforms to multivalently display TRAIL and EGFR binding progeny molecules (EGFRAfb) via the SpyTag/SpyCatcher protein linkage system to form AaLS/TRAIL/EGFRAfb
.

According to the research team, "AaLS/TRAIL/EGFRAfb effectively disrupts the EGF-mediated EGFR survival signaling pathway by blocking EGF/EGFR binding and strongly activating extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways to maximize the death
of apoptotic cancer cells.
" ”

In addition, the research team using A431 tumor-bearing mouse model and near-infrared technology in living organisms also confirmed the EGFRAfb-mediated active targeting effect and the subsequent accumulation of AaLS/TRAIL/EGFRAfb
at tumor sites in living organisms.
In fact, according to the research team, A431 tumor-bearing mice received AaLS/TRAIL/EGFRAfb treatment and showed significant tumor growth inhibition without any significant side effects
.

"Our findings suggest that AaLS/TRAIL/EGFRAfb can serve as an effective protein-based treatment for EGFR-positive cancers, which are difficult to treat
with a single treatment approach," the research team said.
"Aals-based multifunctional nanoplatforms may provide opportunities
for the development of novel therapeutic platforms carrying multiple protein-based ligands and modulators.
"

In addition, the first authors of the study are Jun Heejin (UNIST), Kim Hansong (Assistant Professor, Inje University), and Zhang Eunzhen (UNIST) Research Professor
.
The results of this study have been published in the July 2022 issue of the Journal of Controlled Release (JCR), a research journal
that publishes research related to pharmaceutical sciences.
The research was supported by grants
from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the Korean government, UNIST and the Cell Research Center.
Cell communication
in cancer.

Original:

Hyunwoo Kim, Seowhang Lee, Youngsoo Jun et al.
, “Structural basis for mitoguardin-2 mediated lipid transport at ER-mitochondrial membrane contact sites,” Nat.
Commun.
, (2022).