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Researchers describe a new genetic programme that converts static cells into mobile invasive cells

By 15 de December de 2011November 18th, 2020No Comments
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 15.12.2011

Researchers describe a new genetic programme that converts static cells into mobile invasive cells

Researchers at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) have identified the gene GATA 6 as responsible for epithelial cells -which group together and are static- losing adhesion and moving towards a new site. This process, which is common to developing organisms, is very similar to one that occurs in metastasis, when tumour cells escape from the original tumour and invade new tissue. The journal Developmental Cell is to publish the results of this study this week.


“This process explains why Gata 6 is found in cancers of the liver, pancreas and colon, thus allowing tumour cells to acquire metastatic properties”, stresses Jordi Casanova, head of the Drosophila Morphogenesis group at IRB Barcelona and IBMB-CSIC professor. Having identified the genetic programme that favours this transformation in Drosophila, Casanova contacted Eduard Batlle’s lab, which focuses on colorectal cancer and is also at IRB Barcelona. The aim was to test whether the homologue gene in mammal cells had the capacity to produce this same change. Their studies showed that this gene homologue, GATA 6, is conserved and confers cells the same capacities as those observed in the fly.

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