Though they may seem predictable, the paths of scientific research are often surprises. It was what happened to Dr. Mario Galigniana, CONICET researcher in the Department of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, UBA, and winner of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2010, while trying to elucidate the function of a protein discovered recently.
"When I was working in the United States characterized the protein, but had no idea what was in the cell," says the scientist, who was repatriated in 2004 by the Estate Program of the Ministry of Science. "Later, back in Argentina we had a result that surprised us: We found that a protein very similar to that I worked in the United States is located within the mitochondria, a cell organelle. We thought it was a mistake because the technique used, but I found that actually was there. "
The unexpected location of the protein molecule, called FKBP51, led the researcher to immediately reformulate their hypotheses: "We think if it is a mitochondrial protein could be related to programmed cell death processes that are mediated by this organelle."
To test this, decided to study what was happening the cell when this protein is produced in excess: "We proved that over-expression of FKBP51 protects cells from death," he reveals.
As is well known that cell survival is characteristic of tumor cells to Galigniana the next step was obvious: "We looked at twelve different tumor cell types and found that FKBP51 expression is increased in all of them," he confirms. "We also found that if we inhibited the expression of the protein the cell becomes more sensitive to death," he adds.
The results of these studies, which were unveiled at the International Congress of Steroid Hormones and Cancer held in September in Scotland, led the researchers to study the expression of FKBP51 in human tumors.
"In human biopsy samples of various types of tumors we observed the same qualitative and quantitative pattern we saw in tumor cells, suggesting that this protein might be involved in these malignancies," believes Galigniana.
According to the researcher, the specificity of the FKBP51 can think of it as a possible prognostic indicator of cancer. "We are trying to determine if the level of expression of this protein can be used as a marker of prognosis, metastasis, survival and remission, "he says.
For his part, Dr. Elisa Bal, CONICET researcher at the Institute of Oncology Angel Roffo, where human tumors analyzed, said: "We're still getting to know this new molecule that has potential utility. But more studies are basic and subtraction to analyze a larger number of tumors. "
Meanwhile, in the laboratory of Galigniana made progress in the development of a prognostic test to measure the amount of FKBP51 in the blood. "We generated an anti-FKBP51 monoclonal antibody to measure protein by enzyme immunoassay, a method of quantifying very sensitive, and preliminary results were satisfactory territories. But we still need to test human sera and analyze, among other things, reproducibility, specificity, and whether there are interfering substances, "he announces. "If all goes well, only then we can prove it with patients."
"When I was working in the United States characterized the protein, but had no idea what was in the cell," says the scientist, who was repatriated in 2004 by the Estate Program of the Ministry of Science. "Later, back in Argentina we had a result that surprised us: We found that a protein very similar to that I worked in the United States is located within the mitochondria, a cell organelle. We thought it was a mistake because the technique used, but I found that actually was there. "
The unexpected location of the protein molecule, called FKBP51, led the researcher to immediately reformulate their hypotheses: "We think if it is a mitochondrial protein could be related to programmed cell death processes that are mediated by this organelle."
To test this, decided to study what was happening the cell when this protein is produced in excess: "We proved that over-expression of FKBP51 protects cells from death," he reveals.
As is well known that cell survival is characteristic of tumor cells to Galigniana the next step was obvious: "We looked at twelve different tumor cell types and found that FKBP51 expression is increased in all of them," he confirms. "We also found that if we inhibited the expression of the protein the cell becomes more sensitive to death," he adds.
The results of these studies, which were unveiled at the International Congress of Steroid Hormones and Cancer held in September in Scotland, led the researchers to study the expression of FKBP51 in human tumors.
"In human biopsy samples of various types of tumors we observed the same qualitative and quantitative pattern we saw in tumor cells, suggesting that this protein might be involved in these malignancies," believes Galigniana.
According to the researcher, the specificity of the FKBP51 can think of it as a possible prognostic indicator of cancer. "We are trying to determine if the level of expression of this protein can be used as a marker of prognosis, metastasis, survival and remission, "he says.
For his part, Dr. Elisa Bal, CONICET researcher at the Institute of Oncology Angel Roffo, where human tumors analyzed, said: "We're still getting to know this new molecule that has potential utility. But more studies are basic and subtraction to analyze a larger number of tumors. "
Meanwhile, in the laboratory of Galigniana made progress in the development of a prognostic test to measure the amount of FKBP51 in the blood. "We generated an anti-FKBP51 monoclonal antibody to measure protein by enzyme immunoassay, a method of quantifying very sensitive, and preliminary results were satisfactory territories. But we still need to test human sera and analyze, among other things, reproducibility, specificity, and whether there are interfering substances, "he announces. "If all goes well, only then we can prove it with patients."
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