Protein Ptprv works to suppress tumor

GHENT, Netherlands, Aug 25, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Dutch researchers have discovered the function of an important mediator involved in suppressing the development of tumors.

Scientists from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology, using a mouse model, have shown absence of the mediator makes the mice susceptible to the development of cancer.

Gilles Doumont, Alain Martoriati and colleagues from the team of Jean-Christophe Marine have revealed the protein Ptprv works with the protein p53, a protein that plays an essential role in suppressing the development of tumors and blocking the onset of cancer.

In certain circumstances, p53 directly influences the production of Ptprv. In the case of DNA damage, Ptprv turns out to play a key role in stopping the cell cycle and also contributes to blocking the development of tumors.

Although the Ghent researchers have elucidated its role in the development of cancer, the actual function of Ptprv has not yet been discovered, according to the findings published in the European Molecular Biology Organization Journal.