Newly Discovered Gene Tied To Cancer Cell Proliferation

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The gene SMYD3 is abundant in most colorectal and hepatocellular carcinomas, Japanese researchers report in the August issue of Nature Cell Biology.

In fact, senior investigator Dr. Yusuke Nakamura told Reuters Health that "SMYD3 is exclusively and highly expressed in cancer cells. Hence, molecules that target SMAD3 could be [effective drugs] with a minimum risk of adverse reactions."

Dr. Nakamura of the University of Tokyo and colleagues came to these conclusions after a series of studies in normal and in cancer cells. Among findings were that introduction of SMYD3 enhanced growth in normal cells. However, using small interfering RNAs to knock down the genes resulted in significant growth suppression of cancer cells.

The team also found that SMYD3 associates directly with the RNA helicase HELZ and ultimately regulates downstream genes by interacting with their promoter regions as a transcription factor that contains histone methyltransferase activity.

Activation of SMYD3 may be a key factor in human carcinogenesis, the investigators propose. Therefore, they conclude, "compounds that antagonize the association of SMYD3 and HELZ, or its target DNA sequences and specific inhibitors of the SMYD3 methyltransferase activity, may be effective anticancer drugs."

Source: Nat Cell Biol 2004. [ Google search on this article ]

MeSH Headings: Colonic Diseases : Digestive System Neoplasms : Gastrointestinal Neoplasms : Intestinal Neoplasms : Neoplasms : Neoplasms by Site : Colorectal Neoplasms : Diseases