Biology

Cancer cells hijack stress protein to fuel uncontrolled growth and division

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This is an editorial note from PLOS Biology regarding a research article about inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), a protein involved in cellular stress responses. The original research discovered that IRE1 can control cancer cell cycle progression and tumor growth through a mechanism that does not depend on its enzymatic activity, revealing a previously unknown nonenzymatic function of this protein in cancer biology.


This finding could lead to new therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment by targeting the nonenzymatic functions of IRE1 rather than its enzymatic activity. Understanding alternative mechanisms of tumor growth control may help develop more effective and selective anticancer drugs.


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Cell cycle Concept coming soon Cellular stress response Concept coming soon

by The PLOS Biology Editors

Source: Editorial Note: A nonenzymatic dependency on inositol-requiring enzyme 1 controls cancer cell cycle progression and tumor growth