New research sheds light on genetic drivers of breast cancer

Drawing a future, the complexity of breast cancer is a disease notorious for its silence progression and resistance to treatment. This promising situation is now closer to reality as an innovative study sheds light on the molecular basis of breast cancer’s spread. At the heart of this breakthrough is the MACC1 gene, known for its critical role in the aggressive transmission of cancer. A dedicated team of researchers led by Professor Wei Gu has made great progress in understanding how the gene is regulated, paving the way for novel treatments.
The research, led by Professor Wei Gu and colleagues, Guiyu Zheng and Yanmei Zhu from Shantou University School of Medicine, was published in Iscience. They focus on transcriptional regulation of the MACC1 gene, a key factor in cancer metastasis and chemotherapy resistance. Their work focuses on revealing the regulatory effect of long non-coding RNA (LNCRNA) MACC1-AS1 on MACC1 expression.
Professor GU’s team employed a range of advanced techniques in molecular biology to discover how MACC1-AS1 affects MACC1 transcription. Their method involves breaking down MACC1-AS1 into smaller parts to better understand its function and using RNA pull-down analysis in protein sequencing. These innovative approaches are key to map how MACC1-AS1 interacts with other proteins such as DDX5 in breast cancer cells, thus providing vital insights into the regulation of MACC1 transcription in these cells.
The results of this study are groundbreaking. Professor GU shared: “In breast cancer cells, LNCRNA MACC1-AS1 is an important factor in increasing MACC1 transcription, which in turn enhances the growth potential of cells.” This finding emphasizes the importance of MACC1-AS1 in promoting cancer cell growth Sex, the growth of cancer cells is a key element of cancer progression.
The GU team explained the process further, saying: “MACC1-AS1 forms a complex with a protein called deadbox helicase 5 (DDX5) and interacts with specific regions of the MACC1 promoter. This interaction allows DDX5 to effectively interact with the MACC1 core promoter, transferring from MACC1-AS1 to the core promoter. “This mechanism is crucial to understanding the enhancement of MACC1 transcription, further promoting the aggressiveness of cancer cells. .
This study provides a detailed model of how the interaction between MACC1-AS1 and DDX5 regulates MACC1 transcription. “The combination of MACC1-AS1 and DDX5 at the core promoter increases the involvement of the key transcription factor SP-1, thereby activating MACC1 transcription,” GU detailed. This model is crucial because it highlights the complex role of LNCRNAs such as MACC1-AS1 in cancer development and opens new avenues for potential treatment.
In summary, this landmark study not only elucidates key aspects of breast cancer metastasis, but also marks a new direction for targeted treatment. It highlights the important role of LNCRNA in cancer research and its potential as a target for future treatment, providing new hope for more effective strategies to combat breast cancer.
Journal Reference
GU, W., ZG, ZY, ZX, CS, LW, CW, TH, YM, JL, “LNCRNA MACC1-AS1 is associated with DDX5 to regulate MACC1 transcription in breast cancer cells”, International Journal of Science, August Published on the 15th, published in 2023, doi: