RESEARCH: CANCER
FOLDING PROJECT #19412 PROFILE

Breast cancer is a serious disease that can be caused by gene mutations. Scientists are studying BRCA1, a protein involved in preventing cancer, to understand how changes in it lead to the disease. The project relates to simulating healthy BRCA1 to develop drugs that could fix mutated versions of the protein.

Breast cancer is a leading cause for cancer-related deaths in women around the world.

The disease can result from many different genetic mutations and exhibits a high degree of variability.

Furthermore, breast cancer is prone to metastasizing (spreading to other parts of the body) and therapeutic resistance.

Mutations in a protein known as BRCA1 are one of the hereditary risk factors for developing breast cancer.

Determining how these mutations disrupt common structural features is a key step in developing therapeutics to combat breast cancer.

Many single amino-acid substitutions in BRCA1 lead to increased risk of cancer, but it is unknown how these variants lead to loss of function.

The p194XX series of projects is dedicated to understanding how mutations in the N-terminal RING domain of BRCA1 lead to deleterious effects.

In p19412, we are simulating the wild-type BRCA1 to gain a baseline understanding of the dynamics for the healthy protein.

We hope that this knowledge can lead to a key strategy for developing a small molecule drug capable of "structure correcting" mutant BRCA1.

Breast cancer

A malignant tumor that originates in the breast tissue.

Breast cancer is a serious disease where abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the breast. It can spread to other parts of the body if left untreated. Many factors contribute to breast cancer risk, including genetics, lifestyle choices, and age. Early detection and treatment are crucial for improving survival rates.

Metastasizing

The spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to other parts of the body.

Metastasis is when cancer cells break away from the original tumor and travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to form new tumors in distant organs. This makes the cancer harder to treat.

BRCA1

Breast Cancer Gene 1

BRCA1 is a gene that plays a vital role in repairing damaged DNA. Mutations in this gene can significantly increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers.

Mutations

Permanent alterations in the DNA sequence.

Mutations are changes in the genetic code. They can occur spontaneously or be caused by environmental factors. Some mutations are harmless, while others can lead to diseases like cancer.

Amino-acid substitution

A change in one amino acid in a protein sequence.

Amino-acid substitutions occur when one type of amino acid is replaced by another in a protein. These changes can affect the protein's structure and function.