Regulating Cancer Cell 'Protein Synthesis' with Light

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] Domestic researchers have developed a technology that can regulate protein synthesis in various cells such as cancer cells and nerve cells. This technology controls protein synthesis by regulating the transmission of genetic information in specific cells, and it is expected to contribute to the treatment of cancer cell metastasis, neurological diseases, and more in the future.

The Institute for Basic Science announced on the 20th that the research team led by Huh Wondo, Invited Research Fellow of the Cognitive and Sociality Research Group, and Research Fellow Lee Sangkyu developed a technology that controls protein synthesis by using light to regulate the binding between messenger RNA, which transmits genetic information, and ribosomes, which produce proteins.

Regulating Protein Synthesis in Specific Cells

The technology developed by the research team is the mRNA-LARIAT optogenetics technology, which controls the movement of specific messenger RNA and protein synthesis within living cells by irradiating blue light. Previously, RNA movement in all cells could be controlled through chemotherapy, but it was difficult to regulate RNA in specific cells only.

The research team discovered that RNA movement can be controlled depending on the presence or absence of light and developed this technology. Genetic information in DNA travels via RNA to the ribosome, the protein production factory. When blue light is shone on RNA during this process, the RNA becomes trapped by the light and is isolated from the ribosome. Since genetic information does not arrive, protein synthesis decreases.

The research team applied the mRNA-LARIAT technology to messenger RNA involved in the synthesis of beta-actin (β-actin) protein. When blue light was irradiated on the messenger RNA involved in beta-actin protein synthesis, the cell's cytoskeleton formation and movement functions were impaired. They confirmed that the efficiency of beta-actin protein synthesis dropped by up to 90%.

Application in RNA-Related Disease Research

The research team expects that it will become possible to study the location of RNA and the function of newly synthesized proteins within living cells more efficiently.

Professor Huh Wondo said, "By utilizing the mRNA-LARIAT optogenetics technology, the movement of messenger RNA and protein synthesis in various cells such as cancer cells and nerve cells can be controlled by light," adding, "It can be applied to research on diseases related to messenger RNA, such as cancer cell metastasis and neurological diseases in the future."

The research results were published in the online edition of Nature Cell Biology at 1 a.m. on the 18th (Korean time).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.