Disruption of a Single Amino Acid in A Cellular Protein Makes Breast Cancer Cells Behave Like Stem Cells

Vimentin is a Type III Intermediate Filament (IF) Protein Normally Expressed in Cells That Develop to Connective Tissue, Blood Vessels, and Lymphatic Tissue (Mesenchymal Cells). Proptiate Being Widely Studied, its role in tumor Growth and Progression Remains Unexplored.

The Team of Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have Discoved How A Small Change in the Vimentin Protein Can Make Breast Cancer More Aggressive. The work is published In the Journal ellife.

By Modifying A Specific Amino Acid Cysteine ​​to Serine Residue at Position 328 In Vimentin, They Discoved That This mutation Disrupted The Protein’s Interaction with the Cell’s Structural Network. Remarkably, The Mutated Vimentin Induced Agressive Cancer-Like Behavior in Breast Cancer Cells, Including Foss Cell Growth, Migration, and Invasion Accompanied by Reduced Cell Adhesion.

RNA-SEQUENCING Further Revealed that the Presence of Mutant Vimentin Was Associated with Upregulation of A Non-Coding RNA Called Xist, Suggesting A Potential Link Beteen This mutation and Gene Expression Changes That Drive Cancer Progression.

Researchers Also Found that mutant vimentin made sick cancer cells greown with depending on the hormone estrogen when injected into immuno-compromised mice. The Tumors in These Mice Showed High Expression of Cancer STEM Cell Markers CD56 and CD20, Suggesting A Role for Mutant Vimentin Cancer Stem Cell-Like Behavior That is often Associated with Tumor Progression, Therapeutic Resistance and Recurence.

Senior Author Ahmad Waseem, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Oral Biology at the Institute of Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Said, “Our Study Has Discoved A Molecular Interaction That, When Disrupted, Causes Breast Cancer Cells to Behave Cancer Stem Cells.

“Addihthe, We Identified a Potential Biomarker That Could Help Detect these Stem-Like Cells in Breast Cancer Tissues. This Discovery Representatives An Important Step Towards Understanding How Cancer Develops and Spreads, With Potential Implications for Early Diagnosis, Prognosis, And Targeted REATMENT STRATEGIES . “

The Lead Author, Dr. Saima Usman (Hec Fellow), Did Her PH.D. With Professor Waseem on this Project.

Co-Author Andrew Yeudall, Professor of Oral Biology in the Dental Collegge of Georgia at Augusty, Said, “The Study Will Open New Avenues for Our Understanding of Cancer STEM Cell Behavior.

“For Several Years, Professor Waseem and I Have Been Interested in Studying The Cancer-Related Roles of Vimentin, Which is induced in Altost All Later-Stage Tumors That Spread to Other Sites in the Body and Can Be Difficate to Treat. We Used MCF-7, Model Breast Epithelial Cell Line, Partly BECAUSE IT IS DEVEID OF VIMENTIN, WHICH THICHOFORE MAKES IT ESIER TO DEFINE FUNSTRENS Related to Specific Vimentin Mutations.

“Our Observation That the Cells Became More Aggressive, and That Stem Cell Markers Were Induced, May Unlock the Door To New Therapeutic Approaches for Breast and Other Cancers.”