Peptide Toxins Directed at the Matrix Dissolution Systems of Cancer Cells

Authors: Frankel A.E.; Bugge T.H.; Liu S.; Vallera D.A.; Leppla S.H.

Source: Protein and Peptide Letters, Volume 9, Number 1, February 2002 , pp. 1-14(14)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Growth and spread of tumors requires a variety of membrane and extracellular proteases to modify membrane integrins, dissolve the surrounding matrix and release critical growth factors from both the tumor cell surface and surrounding structures. The two major protease systems involved in this process are the matrix metalloproteases and the serine proteases. Genes and gene products for both protease systems are overexpressed in a variety of neoplasms. Thus, these enzymes serve as excellent targets for the delivery of potent cytotoxic molecules to tumors. A number of peptide toxins have been engineered to bind to tumor cells with high levels of surface proteases and their receptors including anthrax toxins, Pseudomonas exotoxin, saporin and diphtheria toxin. These recombinant fusion proteins provide a novel class of anti-cancer agents that will enter clinical trials in the next several years.

Keywords: Peptide Toxins; CANCER CELLS; PROTEASE SYSTEMS; N-terminal epidermal growth; Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE); N-glycosidic bond of NAD; cleft glutamate; 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium

Language: English

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929866023409048

Publication date: 2002-02-01

• Protein & Peptide Letters publishes short papers in all important aspects of protein and peptide research, including structural studies, recombinant expression, function, synthesis, enzymology, immunology, molecular modeling, drug design etc. Manuscripts must have a significant element of novelty, timeliness and urgency that merit rapid publication. Reports of crystallisation, and preliminary structure determinations of biologically important proteins are acceptable. Purely theoretical papers are also acceptable provided they provide new insight into the principles of protein/peptide structure and function.

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• In this Subject: Anatomy & Physiology
• By this author: Frankel A.E. ;  Bugge T.H. ;  Liu S. ;  Vallera D.A. ;  Leppla S.H.

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