• HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
Saturday, August 23, 2025
BIOENGINEER.ORG
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
        • Lecturer
        • PhD Studentship
        • Postdoc
        • Research Assistant
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
        • Lecturer
        • PhD Studentship
        • Postdoc
        • Research Assistant
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
No Result
View All Result
Bioengineer.org
No Result
View All Result
Home NEWS Science News Biology

Genetic Mechanism: Key to Controlling Cell Growth

Bioengineer by Bioengineer
February 21, 2015
in Biology
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on RedditShare on Telegram

A group of researchers of the University of Barcelona (UB) have described a key interaction to understanding growth control in the vinegar fly (Drosophila melanogaster). According to the study, published in the journal of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), EMBO Reports, the interaction between the transcription factor Cabut and the protein Yorkie (YAP/TAZ in humans) is necessary for tissue and organ regeneration and growth. The study could have biomedical implications as the protein Yorkie is associated with different types of cancer; to avoid the interaction between Cabut and Yorkie could be a potential therapeutic target.

Key to Controlling Cell Growth

The scientific paper is signed by researchers Marina Ruiz-Romero, Florenci Serras and Montserrat Corominas, from the Department of Genetics of the UB and the Institute of Biomedicine of the UB (IBUB).

Cabut is a transcription factor, in other words, a type of protein bound, directly or indirectly, to DNA involved in genetic information transmission that regulates gene expression. “Cabut is associated with growth regulation and cell proliferation, but little was known about its downstream target genes or its precise mechanism of action until now”, affirms Marina Ruiz-Romero, first author of the scientific article.

A study with high-throughput sequencing techniques

In order to know its mechanism of action, researchers used a high-throughput sequencing technique named ChIP-Seq. With this technique, they determine Cabut bound regions in the entire genome. Then, the UB research team compared the results obtained with several databases until they found another protein that appeared in the same regions: Yorkie.

Next, they proved experimentally that both proteins (Cabut and Yorkie) were together and depend on each other to control growth. “With different genetic experiments we analysed what happened if one of them was depleted and we concluded that both need each other to enhance and control growth”, says Montserrat Corominas.

New insights into tumour evolution understanding

The study provides new insights into the understanding of tumour development. In fact, Yorkie mammalian homologs YAP and TAZ work as transcriptional co-activators in growth processes; their overexpression is associated with uncontrolled growth and cancer. Drugs targeting the Hippo signalling pathway have not been successful, so it would be interesting to act on the factors that interact with it. “Studies with human cells are much more difficult because each gene has more copies, but the goal would be to avoid Yorkie bind with other factors to block the activity. Results led us to think that Cabut could be a potential target”, emphasises Montserrat Corominas.

To study uncontrolled cell proliferation

UB researchers continue studying tissue regeneration mechanisms. “Regeneration and cancer have many things in common; however, the first one is a controlled proliferation, but the second is an uncontrolled proliferation that causes a tumour. The aim is to observe how Yorkie works in these two contexts in order to know better tumour mechanisms”, explains Marina Ruiz-Romero.

In future studies, the UB research team will continue using the vinegar fly as a model to identify new genes involved in these processes. “Basic research is essential to find biomedical applications. In this sense, many aspects about development, cancer and regeneration are known thanks to the drosophila”, concludes Montserrat Corominas.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Universidad de Barcelona.

Share12Tweet8Share2ShareShareShare2

Related Posts

Leaves Release Ice-Nucleating Particles in Rain

Leaves Release Ice-Nucleating Particles in Rain

August 23, 2025
Capturing a Split-Second Glimpse of Cellular Activity in Freeze-Frame

Capturing a Split-Second Glimpse of Cellular Activity in Freeze-Frame

August 23, 2025

New Jurassic Bittacidae Species Reveal Wing Spot Diversity

August 23, 2025

Japanese Barn Swallows Drive Summer Decline in Male Bees

August 23, 2025
Please login to join discussion

POPULAR NEWS

  • blank

    Molecules in Focus: Capturing the Timeless Dance of Particles

    141 shares
    Share 56 Tweet 35
  • New Drug Formulation Transforms Intravenous Treatments into Rapid Injections

    114 shares
    Share 46 Tweet 29
  • Neuropsychiatric Risks Linked to COVID-19 Revealed

    81 shares
    Share 32 Tweet 20
  • Modified DASH Diet Reduces Blood Sugar Levels in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes, Clinical Trial Finds

    60 shares
    Share 24 Tweet 15

About

We bring you the latest biotechnology news from best research centers and universities around the world. Check our website.

Follow us

Recent News

Leaves Release Ice-Nucleating Particles in Rain

Advancing Supercapacitor Electrodes with Doped BiFeO3 Nanoparticles

Capturing a Split-Second Glimpse of Cellular Activity in Freeze-Frame

  • Contact Us

Bioengineer.org © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Homepages
    • Home Page 1
    • Home Page 2
  • News
  • National
  • Business
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science

Bioengineer.org © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.