The RNA Molecular Biology Research Center (National Research Lab) led by Professor Jeong Sun-joo (Department of Molecular Biology, BK21 Project Leader) has found a new principle of occurrence in colorectal cancer.
The team has discovered that by adding a certain protein to the RNA of COX-2 (Cyclooxygenrase-2), which is the gene that leads to the formation of colorectal cancer, will increase the level COX-2 protein and will accelerate creation of the cancer cells. This finding has shown internationally for the first time that creation and spreading of cancer cells may be regulated through certain RNA.
Also the finding is especially significant in that it has uncovered the creation principle of the cancer cell. The research results were published in the August edition of Nucleic Acids Research, which is a prestigious journal in molecular biology. The RNA substance used in the research is also registered as a U.S. patent.
“This research presents new possibilities in finding the principles of creation in cancer cells,” said Professor Jeong. “I expect it will have a major impact on cancer medicines in the future.”
▶ Picture Description: Principle of colorectal cancer occurrence
In the process of transformation from a normal to a cancer cell, β-catenin protein combines to COX-2 mRNA β-catenin by recognizing the structure and sequence of the RNA. Then HuR protein, which controls the creation of RNA, is drawn out to increase the level of COX-2 protein to promote the creation of cancer cells.
In particular, post-graduate students actively participated in the research, which has attracted outside attention. In May, the first author, Kim In-ae (Ph.D., Department of Molecular Biology), was awarded Best Research Award, which is given to the person with the most excellent research paper by Korea’s largest academic society for Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - the Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In addition, the first co-author Kwak Ho-yoon (Ph.D., Department of Molecular Biology) received the Best Publication Award in the Korea Cellular Biology Society in June and the Excellent Poster Award from the Association of Korean Geoscience Societies, RNA Subcommittee Society and Korea Nuclear Acid Society in July.
Prof. Jeong said the results are the fruits of diligently performing many years of theoretical and experimental studies from the undergraduate level and accumulated experience from various studies including BK21.
▶ Research team that discovered the principle of colorectal cancer occurrence
(From the left: Kwak Ho-yoon, Prof. Jeong Sun-ju, Kim In-ae)