Scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University have found a way to block energy production in colon cancer cells. This discovery could form the basis of a new treatment for tumors. The research was published in the journal Cell Reports.
Ceramides are substances that regulate a number of vital cellular functions. When ceramide production stops, cancer cells grow more efficiently. Ceramide synthases are enzymes responsible for the production of these substances.
In a new study, scientists found that one of the ceramide synthases, CerS1 (ceramide synthase 1), interacts with the Hsp27 molecule. It belongs to heat shock proteins that help other molecules fold correctly into specific structures.
The researchers also found that Hsp27 activity was higher in many colon cancer cells, while CerS1 activity was significantly lower. They showed that too much Hsp27 can prevent ceramide synthases from doing their job. Additionally, blocking Hsp27 in these cells resulted in increased CerS1 activity, leading to impaired mitochondrial function in cancer cells, structures responsible for energy production.
The authors believe that the Hsp27 protein may be a target in the development of new treatments for colon cancer. Additionally, increased production of Hsp27 protein has been observed in other tumors such as lung, pancreas, and prostate cancer; Therefore, this discovery may also lead to improved treatments for these diseases.