RESEARCH: CANCER
FOLDING PROJECT #16449 PROFILE

This project looks at how blocking G proteins could treat eye cancer and other diseases. G proteins control many body functions, but when they mutate, they can cause problems like cancer. This project studies a unique G protein from plants that works differently than human ones, helping us understand how G proteins evolved and how diseases might be caused by them.

This project seeks to understand G protein inhibition in the treatment of uveal melanoma and other G protein related diseases.

G proteins are molecular switches regulate biological functions like sight, smell, and memory.

This pivotal role makes G proteins essential players in physiology and pathophysiology.

However, when G proteins mutate, they result in a variety of diseases from cancer to heart disease.

For example, a single mutation in the Gq protein is known to cause uveal melanoma, a cancer in the iris of our eyes that remains largely untreatable short of removing the eye. This project is simulating one of the G protein family isoforms, GPA1, found in Arabidopsis thaliana.

GPA1 is distinct from the other G proteins in our body, in that it is "switch-like" behavior is not regulated by membrane receptors (GPCRs).

While other projects are simulating human G proteins to understand their similarities and differences, studying GPA1 provides an "extreme" example of a G protein most dissimilar from the rest.

Understanding GPA1 relative to other G proteins has implications in knowing G protein evolution and G protein disease pathology.

G protein

A protein that binds guanine nucleotides and regulates signal transduction.

G proteins are crucial signaling molecules found in cells. They act like molecular switches, turning on or off cellular processes by binding to guanine nucleotides. These processes include vision, smell, memory, and various physiological functions. Dysregulation of G proteins can lead to diseases like cancer and heart disease.

Uveal Melanoma

A type of cancer that affects the uvea, the middle layer of the eye.

Uveal melanoma is a rare but serious form of eye cancer. It originates in the uvea, which includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. This cancer can spread to other parts of the body, making early detection and treatment crucial.

GPA1

G protein alpha subunit 1

GPA1 is a specific type of G protein found in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Unlike G proteins in animals, GPA1's activity isn't controlled by membrane receptors (GPCRs). Studying GPA1 provides insights into how G proteins evolved and function differently across species.

GPCRs

G protein-coupled receptors

GPCRs are a large family of cell surface receptors that activate G proteins. They play a vital role in transmitting signals from the environment to the inside of cells, influencing various processes like vision, smell, and hormone regulation.