Mechanisms of Src Regulation Revealed

Src is an enzyme from the family of protein tyrosine kinases and it was the first cancer-causing gene discovered at the beginning of the 20th century. It has control over cell metabolism, division and death and while its function is turned off in normal cells, src may turn the host-cell into a cancer cell if the regulatory mechanisms that control its activity are disrupted.

One of the known factors that regulate Src is reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced when the cell is under growth stimulation. A new study concerning the way Src responds to this regulation could bring real benefits for the development of new drugs targeting specific cancers.

The research, conducted by Doctoral student David J. Kemble and Professor Gongqin Sun in the University of Rhode Island Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, was able to identify the sensor that enables Src to respond to ROS regulation trough a systematic approach which involved the study of all the potential mechanisms and lead to finding the same sensor present in a other similar enzymes, such as the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) family.

Regarding further investigation on Src function in the cell, Dr. Sun stated that “Src function is under the control of several different mechanisms; each one needs to fit in with the others to form a seamless regulatory system.”