What is it about?
The tumor suppressor gene p53 is known to be involved in the regulation of various genes, and it was also known that the Reprimo protein (meaning 'repress' in Latin) is regulated by p53 and plays a role in cancer suppression. However, its molecular mechanism remained unclear. We discovered that the Reprimo protein induces cell death from outside the cell and elucidated its molecular mechanism. It was revealed for the first time in the world that the Reprimo protein is secreted from inside the cell to the outside, and cancer cells that receive the Reprimo protein undergo cell death known as apoptosis.
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Why is it important?
This discovery raises expectations for the development of new anticancer therapies targeting the Reprimo protein and its related pathways. It was also revealed that within cells where cell death is induced by the Reprimo protein, cadherin-like protein receptors, the Hippo pathway, and p73 are required as part of the signaling pathway.
Perspectives
These findings open new avenues for cancer treatment research, and it is anticipated that the development of anticancer drugs targeting these pathways, as well as the application of Reprimo protein itself in cancer treatment, will follow.
Rieko Ohki
National Cancer Center Research Institute
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Extrinsic induction of apoptosis and tumor suppression via the p53–Reprimo–Hippo–YAP/TAZ–p73 pathway, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, February 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2413126122.
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