Researchers from the Hepatology Program of the Cima University of Navarra have identified new molecular mechanisms involved in the maintenance of genome integrity. Its instability is directly related to the development of disease and cancer. The results of the study have been published in the scientific journal Nucleic Acid Research.

"Our cells are equipped with numerous mechanisms to maintain genome stability and prevent the accumulation of mutations that can lead to neoplastic transformation. In this work we demonstrate that a protein (the splicing factor SLU7) participates in these protective mechanisms," explain Dr. Carmen Berasain and Dr. Matías Ávila, directors of the study. Both belong to the research center Biomedica en network en el area de Enfermedades Hepáticas (CIBEREHD), within the group of the Cima and the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, coordinated by Dr. Bruno Sangro.

According to the researchers, "SLU7 is necessary to prevent DNA damage and the accumulation of mutations during gene transcription or expression. In addition, during cell division, SLU7 facilitates the proper delivery of chromosomes to daughter cells and progression in cell division (or mitosis)."

The scientists also identified the molecular mechanisms involved in these processes. "In pathological situations such as cirrhosis we have shown that SLU7 expression is decreased. Our data suggests that these mechanisms could be involved in the development of liver cancer," states Dr. Berasain.

Therapeutic application

The work, supported by "la Caixa" (through project Hepacare), concludes that not only liver cancer cells depend on SLU7 for their division, but also cells from other types of cancer.

"Following these results, researchers at Cima will focus on validating whether this dependence can be used as a new target for therapeutic purposes," explains Dr. Berasain.