Cancer
cells growing without controls
Cells in our bodies are carefully regulated so that they divide, grow, and die according to the best plan for keeping us alive. When they lose these controls, they can grow into deadly cancers. Atomic structures have revealed how cell growth is normally controlled, and how cancer cells circumvent these essential controls.
Molecule of the Month Articles (36)
![]() | Actinomycin Some antibiotics attack cells by intercalating between the bases in a DNA double helix |
![]() | Apoptosomes Apoptosomes make life or death decisions in cells |
![]() | Caspases Caspases disassemble proteins during the process of programmed cell death |
![]() | Chimeric Antigen Receptors T cells may be engineered with chimeric antigen receptors to attack cancer cells. |
![]() | Cisplatin and DNA Cisplatin treats cancer by causing damage to the DNA of cancer cells. |
![]() | Cyclin and Cyclin-dependent Kinase Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases control when cells divide, making them important targets for cancer therapy. |
![]() | Dihydrofolate Reductase DHFR is a target for cancer chemotherapy and bacterial infection |
![]() | Epidermal Growth Factor EGF is part of a family of proteins that controls aspects of cell growth and development |
![]() | Estrogen Receptor Estrogen binds to receptors in the nucleus and affects key genes in development |
![]() | Glutathione Transferases Glutathione transferase tags toxic molecules, making them easy to recognize and remove. |
![]() | Hepatitis C Virus Protease/Helicase Structures of hepatitis C viral proteins have led to the discovery of direct-acting antivirals. |
![]() | HER2/neu and Trastuzumab Trastuzumab monoclonal antibodies targeting HER2 receptors are at the forefront of breast cancer treatment |
![]() | Hsp90 Heat shock proteins ensure that proteins remain folded and active under harsh conditions |
![]() | Human Papillomavirus and Vaccines The capsid protein of papillomavirus is used in vaccines that prevent cervical cancer. |
![]() | Initiation Factor eIF4E Initiation factors for protein synthesis interact through disordered chains. |
![]() | Major Histocompatibility Complex MHC displays peptides on the surfaces of cells, allowing the immune system to sense the infection inside |
![]() | MDM2 and Cancer MDM2 controls the action of p53 tumor suppressor, making it a target for cancer chemotherapy. |
![]() | Microtubules The largest filaments of the cytoskeleton provide tracks for transport throughout the cell |
![]() | Nanodiscs and HDL Nanodiscs conveniently package a small piece of membrane for experimental studies. |
![]() | Nicotine, Cancer, and Addiction Nicotine causes addiction by interacting with receptors in the brain |
![]() | Non-Homologous End Joining Supercomplexes Lethal double-strand breaks in the DNA genome are repaired by NHEJ |
![]() | p53 Tumor Suppressor p53 tumor suppressor protects the body from DNA damage and cancer |
![]() | PD-1 (Programmed Cell Death Protein 1) PD-1 and its ligands are a new target for cancer therapy |
![]() | Pyruvate Kinase M2 Pyruvate kinases are the paradoxical gatekeepers for cancer cell metabolism and growth. |
![]() | RAF Protein Kinases A single mutation in a RAF protein kinase can help transform a normal cell into a cancer cell. |
![]() | Ras Protein Mutation of the growth-contolling ras protein can lead to cancer |
![]() | RecA and Rad51 Broken DNA strands may be repaired by matching sequences in a duplicate copy of the DNA |
![]() | Ribonucleotide Reductase Ribonucleotide reductase creates the building blocks of DNA |
![]() | Simian Virus 40 SV40 hijacks the cells it infects using only a handful of proteins |
![]() | Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) Our cells continually look for pieces of double-stranded RNA, a possible sign of viral infection |
![]() | Spliceosomes Cryoelectron microscropy is revealing how spliceosomes cut-and-paste messenger RNA molecules. |
![]() | Src Tyrosine Kinase Growth signaling proteins play an important role in the development of cancer |
![]() | Telomerase Telomerase maintains the ends of our chromosomes. |
![]() | Thymine Dimers Ultraviolet light damages our DNA, but our cells have ways to correct the damage |
![]() | Topoisomerases Topoisomerases untangle and reduce the tension of DNA strands in the cell |
![]() | Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VegF) and Angiogenesis VegF promotes blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), affecting cancer proliferation, wound healing, and other bodily processes. |
Learning Resources (2)
![]() | Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Paper Model The capsid protein of papillomavirus is used in vaccines that prevent cervical cancer. |
![]() | Bound! Protein-drug matching game Other Resource Bound! is a card game for students 12 and up, where players compete to match the most drugs to their protein targets. |
Structural Biology Highlights (4)
Goodsell Molecular Landscapes (1)
![]() | Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VegF) Signaling Cross section of two cells showing the VegF signaling pathway and some of its consequences. |