Theoretical Design of a New Chimeric Protein for the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Summary: Research suggests a linked protein design boosts breast cancer cell death, offering new treatment potential. #CancerResearch #BreastCancer

Soleimani M¹ ; Mahnam K² ; Mirmohammadsadeghi H^{1, 3} ; Sadeghialiabadi H^{3, 4} ; Jahaniannajafabadi A^{1, 3}
Source: Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences Published:2016

Abstract

p28 and NRC peptides are two anticancer peptides with various mechanisms have shown to be effective against breast cancer. Therefore, it seems that construction of a chimeric protein containing the two peptides might cause synergistic cytotoxic effects. However, since the two peptides bear opposite charges, production of a chimeric protein in which the two moieties do not intervene each other is difficult. In this study, our goal was to find a suitable peptide linker for the new chimeric protein in a manner that none of the peptides intervene the other's function. We selected some linkers with different characteristics and lengths and created a small library of the chimeric proteins harboring these linkers. Homology modeling and molecular dynamic simulation revealed that (PA)5 P and (EAAAK)3 linkers can separate the p28 and NRC peptides effectively. Thus, the chimeric protein linked with (PA)5 P or (EAAAK)3 linkers might show synergistic and stronger anticancer effects than the separate peptide moieties because they could exert their cytotoxic effects freely which is not influenced by the other part.