Hyderabad: Research at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has identified a protein that could be the culprit that causes cancer. Called HPIP (haematopoietic PBX-interacting protein), it has an important role in cell division. Cancers in India show an ‘overexpression’ of HPIP.
The findings of Prof. Bramanandam Manavathi, faculty in the department of biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad (UoH) and his team, has been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
As per the research team, the study not only underscores the importance of the HPIP gene in cell division, but also signifies how HPIP overexpression has been observed in various cancers including breast cancer is responsible for tumour growth. It implies considering HPIP as a potential therapeutic target in cancer therapy.
They said: “While the HPIP role in cancer is well-established to consider (it) as a potential novel therapeutic target in cancer, its protein structure... might motivate us to identify the inhibitors for HPIP. We are partially successful in that direction.”
“We are in the process of identifying the small molecular synthetic inhibitors to block its dimerisation, its oncogenic functions and thus cure cancer,” the resea-rchers added
